KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –
Nita Cook went 3-for-5, including a 2-run single in the seventh inning to pull Oregon Tech within a run, but College of Idaho outlasted the Lady Owls, 7-6, in the semifinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Stilwell Stadium.
Despite the loss, Tech (41-8) will look ahead to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, beginning May 11 – with the Owls hosting one of 10 brackets. The 48-team field, including the squads heading to the Basin will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.
OIT had control of today's match-up early – as
Addison Kachnik smashed a 2-run homer in the first and loaded the bases in the second, with a
Malia Mick fielders' choice scoring another. However, the Lady Owls stranded the bases loaded – finishing the afternoon with 11 runners left on the basepaths.
C of I (34-20) battled back in the third – as Lena Zahniser worked a 14-pitch walk, followed by a 2-run homer from Bella Fazzio – cutting the margin to 3-2. After Tech scored a run on a wild pitch in the fourth, the Yotes tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a 2-out Fazzio RBI double and an Alyssa Melendez single.
The Yotes lead grew to 7-4 before the Owls made it interesting in the seventh.
Brooklyn Loose gapped a 1-out double,
Leah Huffman was hit by a pitch and
Hayden Rockwell walked.
Maggie Pizano was robbed of a hit on a diving stop at second by Fazzio, before Cook blooped a single into right to plate a pair. With the tying run at third, Mick flew out to left to end the game.
Both Huffman and Rockwell reached base in all four plate appearances, as Tech had an 11-hit attack.
Southern Oregon went on to win the tournament, hitting four home runs in a 9-1 victory in the title game against C of I.
CCC TOURNAMENT RESULTS
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
Game 5 – College of Idaho 3, Simpson 2 (10 inn.) (loser out)
Game 6 – Eastern Oregon 9, British Columbia 1 (5 inn.) (loser out)
Game 7 – Southern Oregon 4, Oregon Tech 1
Game 8 – College of Idaho 4, Eastern Oregon 2 (loser out)
Game 9 – College of Idaho 7, Oregon Tech 6 (loser out)
Game 10 – Southern Oregon 9, College of Idaho 1 (6 inn.) (championship)
