Story by Mike Safford. Photo by Torin Combs.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Kacie Schmidt tossed a 3-hit shutout and Kaila Mick closed out a record-setting weekend with a 4-for-4 performance, helping Oregon Tech complete a 4-game sweep of No. 8-ranked Southern Oregon, grabbing 3-0 and 2-1 victories over the defending NAIA champions at Stilwell Stadium.
The Lady Owls (16-6, 7-2 CCC) pulled into a first-place tie in the Cascade Conference standings with the opening win, as Tech ran their overall win streak to eight.
Schmidt dominated the Raiders (17-7, 6-3), limiting the potent SOU lineup to three singles – with no runner reaching third base. The right-hander got all the run support needed in the first, as Nita Cook led off with a triple and scored on a Mick sacrifice fly.
OIT extended the margin to 3-0 in the fourth, as Mick doubled and scored on a Puakea Milbourne double, with Mckenzie Staub delivering Milbourne with a ground out.
In Game 2, Cook tripled home Marla Goodspeed from second base in the third inning and an inning later, Milbourne clubbed her fifth home run of the season – staking Tech to a 2-0 lead.
SOU made it interesting in the sixth, as a Piper Love RBI single cut the lead in half, with the Raiders loading the bags with one out. Enter freshman Alli Parker, who coaxed an inning-ending double play ball, adding consecutive seventh inning strikeouts to close out the win.
Mick was 2-for-2 in both games – finishing the series 10-for-11 with six runs scored and four RBI. Milbourne was 3-for-5 on the day, with Jayce Seavert going 2-for-3 in the Game 2 win. Staub earned the victory, working five-plus innings of 5-hit ball before Parker logged the save.
Faith Moultrie was 2-for-4 in Game 2 for the Raiders.
The Lady Owls hit the road next weekend, traveling to Springfield for a 4-game series at Bushnell.
