COLUMBUS, Ga. – Last season, Kacie Schmidt blanked the University of the Cumberlands in the national semifinals, leading Oregon Tech to the NAIA title game. A year later on the same diamond, the junior held one of the most potent offenses in the NAIA to six hits, as the Lady Owls topped the No. 4-ranked Patriots, 2-1, in the opening game of the NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex.
Schmidt took a shutout into the sixth, working around a walk, striking out five – earning her 26th win of the year.
“What a great effort by our ladies,” said OIT head coach Greg Stewart. “We had a couple big 2-out hits in the third to take the lead, Kacie was tremendous in the circle and we played great defense. It’s a big win the way the bracket sets up, as we get tomorrow off to prepare for Saturday’s opponent.”
The Lady Owls (48-10) will meet the winner of tomorrow’ match-up between top-seed Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) and Madonna (Mich.) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be carried live in the Basin on 104.3-FM and 960-AM, with a Watch Party for the game in the OIT College Union Mount Mazama Room.
UC (47-8) had a golden opportunity to take a first inning lead, as Carly Oliver reached on an infield single and moved to third on an Amber Gainer double. Schmidt buckled down, retiring both Jade Gainer and Makenzie Keatts on bunts and coaxing Amber Atkins to ground out to end the threat.
Tech took a 2-0 lead in the third, as Marla Goodspeed reached on an error and was sacrificed to second. With two outs, Nita Cook blooped an RBI single to center to plate Goodspeed – taking second on the throw home. On the next pitch, Puakea Milbourne laced a run-scoring single to add to the lead.
The Patriots made it interesting in the sixth, as Amber Gainer doubled and scored on a Keatts RBI single. However, Schmidt ended the rally, getting Bailey Turnbow to fly out and retired UC in order in the seventh to cap the victory.
Milbourne finished 3-for-3 in the victory and Malia Mick extended her hit streak to five games with a fifth inning single. Kaila Mick finished 1-for-4 – in the process, breaking the all-time NAIA at bats record (863).
