REDDING, Calif. – An extremely long day for the Oregon Tech softball team netted a split to start the Simpson Crossover Tournament at the Redding Sports Complex.
 
The Lady Owls (8-2) braved a snowstorm this morning in their trek from the Basin to Redding, a storm that washed away morning games. Playing three hours later than originally scheduled, Tech rallied for a 5-3 win over Park Gilbert, before losing a pitchers duel, 2-1, to Westcliff.
 
Junior right-hander Alli Parker was tremendous, getting the win in Game 1 and giving the Owls a chance in Game 2 – combining to throw seven and a third innings, allowing no runs on four hits, striking out 13.
 
In the opener, the Bucs (5-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead – scoring runs on a wild pitch and an error in the opening frame and adding a bases loaded walk in the third. Parker came in and slammed the door, striking out nine – with the Owls offense responding late.
 
Leah Huffman led off the third with a double and scored on a Malia Mick sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Owls would tie the score in the fifth, as Gina Allen singled in a run and Addison Kachnik roped an RBI ground-rule double.
 
Tech would take the lead in the sixth, as Huffman lined a go-ahead RBI double and Mick plated her with a single.
 
Huffman was 2-for-2 with three runs scored for OIT, with Dionna Leannio going 4-for-4 for Park.
 
The late game saw all the scoring in the first three innings, as Madison Mendez singled home Alyssa Patlan, who led off the game with a triple. The Owls squared the score in the second, as Puakea Milbourne singled and eventually scored on a Brooklyn Loose safety squeeze. Unfortunately for Tech, an unearned run for the Warriors (6-4) in the third gave the California club a lead they would not surrender.
 
OIT had their best chance in the fourth, but the Owls squandered a bases-loaded chance.
 
Mendez got the win for WU, working around four hits, with Jenna Gorden earning the tough-luck loss, allowing just one earned run on five hits in four-plus innings.
 
Day 2 of the tournament has Tech playing Arizona Christian at 12 p.m. and Westcliff at 2 p.m.