via Mike Safford, Oregon Tech Athletics
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Multi-hit games from Nita Cook and Marla Goodspeed were not enough for the Lady Owls, as Oregon Tech saw their softball season ended by Jessup University in Game 16 of the NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex.
The Warriors (43-11) scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to grab a lead and withstood a final inning rally by Tech to claim a 4-3 victory – as OIT will bring to Klamath the fourth-place trophy.
The Owls (49-12) held a 2-0 lead after two innings, as Cook opened the bottom of the first with a single and eventually scored on a Lexi Klum ground out. An inning later, Malia Mick reached on a fielders choice, moved to third on a Goodspeed single and scored on a wild pitch.
JU answered with one swing, as Maddy Ybarra golfed a 2-run homer out to center to square the game in the third.
Tied 2-2 in the sixth, Sarah Giles led off the inning with a walk, was sacrificed to second and scored on a RBI single up the middle by Kaylee Winn. The Warriors would extend the margin to 4-2 in the seventh on an Ybarra RBI triple.
Tech had one final chance, as Cook singled, moved to second on a walk and took third on a wild pitch. Following a Kaila Mick walk, Cook scored on a Puakea Milbourne fielders’ choice. However, a ground out ended the threat and the OIT season.
The loss capped the careers of three seniors – Klum, Kaila Mick and Mckenzie Staub – who were playing in their fourth-straight NAIA Softball World Series. All three players were multiple-time All-Cascade Conference picks and rank statistically among the all-time leaders in program history.
The team will return to Medford early Thursday afternoon.
