ASHLAND, Ore. - A seventh inning rally for the College of Idaho came up one run short, as the Yotes dropped a 3-2 decision to Oregon Tech in the semifinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at University Field.
OIT (40-14) claimed the CCC's second automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships, while the Coyotes will have to wait until Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CDT) to see if they earn one of nine (or 10) at-large berths to the 40-team Opening Round Tournament.
Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their opening at bat, as the Owls took advantage of an error and passed ball to set up a Dre Sotelo 2-run triple.
The Yotes (38-15) battled back, pulling within a run in the third, as
Haley Loffer led off with a triple and scored on a
Kylie Smith single - but stranded the tying run in scoring position in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
The No. 10-ranked Owls got a huge insurance run in the seventh, as following a Maddie Deverna 2-out double, Kiahna Brown tripled down the right field line for a 3-1 lead. OIT would need the added run, as a leadoff double by Loffer and single by Smith gave C of I runners at first and third with no outs. However, Sarah Abramson worked out of trouble - allowing only a
Marissa Maddox RBI ground out to cut the margin to 3-2 - getting a fly ball out with the tying run at second to end the game.
Abramson worked around eight hits for the win, while C of I starter
Colette Robert held the powerful OIT attack to just five hits. Loffer was 3-for-4 in the loss - tying the C of I single-season school record for runs scored (43) and stolen bases (29) in a season.
