CALDWELL, Idaho – Cassidy Olson hit a go-ahead two-run home run in a five-run third inning outburst, leading Oregon Tech to a 10-2 victory over the College of Idaho in Game 1 of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Tournament at Symms Field.
Tournament Central OIT will meet Cal State San Marcos in tomorrow's early game, as the No. 5 ranked Cougars used two home runs themselves in a 6-1 victory over Dickinson State.
Game 1 – Oregon Tech 10, College of Idaho 2
A week after being eliminated by C of I in the Cascade Conference Championships, the Owls (34-12) sent the hosts into the elimination bracket by scoring 10 unanswered runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
The Lady Yotes (29-16) had chances in the first three innings against starter Rylee Carleton. C of I stranded two runners in the first, then loaded the bases with one out in the second – striking first on a Briana Brace sacrifice fly. An inning later, Nickayla Skinner singled home a run to make it 2-0.
OIT took advantage of three walks, a pair of wild pitches, and two errors – sending 11 batters to the plate – in their big third inning. An error got Tech on the board, with the tying run scoring on a wild pitch. Olson followed with a long two-run homer – her third of the season off Skinner, C of I's starter – to make it 4-2, with a bases loaded walk pushing the lead to 5-2.
Carleton settled down, retiring 6-of-7 batters to close the game, while the OIT offense kept swinging. A pinch-hit, two-run single by Sadie Birch extended the lead to 9-2 in the fifth, with Olson ending the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly.
Olson was 2-for-3 with four RBI in the win for the Owls, with Carleton allowing just four hits in the complete game win.
Skinner took the loss, walking seven and striking out seven.
Game 2 – Cal State San Marcos 6, Dickinson State 1
Two big swings lifted the top-seeded Cougars (39-7-1) to their fourth-straight Opening Round victory.
In the second, Tani Leasau walked and after a Mallory Campbell single, Olivia Lucatuorto launched a three-run homer to give CSUSM the lead.
The Blue Hawks (39-14), who had a 22-game win streak snapped, got on the board in the fourth as Tiffany Morgan walked, moved to third on a Regan Lawrence two-out double, and scored on a Kailey Olcott single. However, Lawrence was thrown out a home on the play, thanks to a great throw from Alex Miller, to end the threat.
CSUSM added to their lead in the sixth, as Leasau roped a two-run homer to left to make it 5-1, with Caylyn Rodriguez doubling home a run in the seventh to close the scoring.
Katie Wilkinson allowed three hits in five innings of work to notch the victory, with Leasau the lone Cougars player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2.
Lawrence took the loss for DSU, allowing seven hits, but helped her own cause with a pair of doubles at the plate.
NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round – College of Idaho Bracket
Game 1 – Oregon Tech 10, College of Idaho 2
Game 2 – Cal State San Marcos 6, Dickinson State 1
Game 3 (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.) – Oregon Tech vs. Cal State San Marcos
Game 4 (Tuesday, 1 p.m.) - College of Idaho vs. Dickinson State (loser out)
Game 5 (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.) – Loser 3 vs. Winner 4 (loser out)
Game 6 (Wednesday, Noon) – Winner 3 vs. Winner 5 (Championship)
