KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –
Kristine Schmidt tossed a 4-hit shutout, as Oregon Tech made a third inning run stand up, topping College of Idaho, 1-0, in Game 3 of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Stilwell Stadium.
The top-seeded Lady Owls (41-6) will meet rival Southern Oregon at 2 p.m. Saturday in the winner's-bracket final – as SOU earned victories over Simpson and Eastern Oregon to remain unbeaten.
Schmidt kept a potent Yotes (31-19) line-up in check – helped by three double plays turned by the Owls defense.
Addison Kachnik snared a sharp Chloe Flerchinger liner in the second and doubled off Isabella Fazzio at first;
Nita Cook started a 4-6-3 double play to end the third, while
Puakea Milbourne caught Quincy Cronquist overrunning third base in the seventh inning to stop a C of I rally threat.
Tech scored the lone run of the game in the third, as Cook led off with an infield single and both
Malia Mick and
Addison Kachnik walked. Milbourne followed with a ground ball into the hole at short, with C of I getting an out at third – but allowing Cook to score to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Schmidt walked two and struck out four in picking up her staff high 18th win. Both
Sawyer Stenson and
Leah Huffman had two hits – as C of I pitchers Drew Williams and Kina Watts held OIT to just five hits.
C of I earned a 5-2 win in today's opener to earn the date with Tech, as the Yotes toppled British Columbia ace, Carleen Murray. Madilyn Powell broke a 1-1 tie in the third with an RBI double and Watts tossed four-plus innings of shutout relief to claim the win.
Southern got to the semifinals with a 13-2 win over Simpson and a 4-1 win over rival Eastern. The Raiders hit three home runs in the early win – including a 3-run blast from Lexi Ramirez. Against EOU, Ayla Davies took a 1-hit shutout into the sixth, with Brooke Nordahl driving in a pair in a 3-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
GAME 1 – College of Idaho 5, British Columbia 2
GAME 2 – Southern Oregon 13, Simpson 2 (5 inn.)
GAME 3 – Oregon Tech 1, College of Idaho 0
GAME 4 – Southern Oregon 4, Eastern Oregon 1
SATURDAY
GAME 5 – Simpson vs. College of Idaho, 9 a.m. (loser out)
GAME 6 – Eastern Oregon vs. British Columbia, 11:30 a.m. (loser out)
GAME 7 – Southern Oregon vs. Oregon Tech, 2 p.m.
GAME 8 – Winner 5 vs. Winner 6, 4:30 p.m. (loser out)
