MEDFORD, Ore. – Top-ranked Oregon Tech opened up the 2024 softball season in convincing fashion, combining for 27 runs and 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Pacific University – giving head coach Greg Stewart career wins No. 700 and 701.
Weathering rain and wind at Lithia & Driveway Fields, the Lady Owls (2-0) dominated the doubleheader with the Division III school, claiming run-rule 10-1 and 17-1 wins.
Tech rode quality pitching from All-Americans Kacie Schmidt and Mckenzie Staub, with the Owls getting production up and down their batting order.
Playing in extreme conditions early in the opener, OIT took a 1-0 lead in the second as Puakea Milbourne scored from first on a gapper to left from Jayce Seavert. An inning later, Tech strung together three key hits – an RBI double from Kaila Mick, an RBI triple from Lexi Klum and a Milbourne RBI single in a 4-run inning that extended the lead.
The Boxers (0-2) cut the deficit to 5-1 in the sixth on a Kayla Kodani RBI single, but the Owls won the game with a 5-run bottom of the frame. OIT loaded the bases with no outs, with Mick clearing the bags with a triple to right, followed by a walk-off homer from Klum.
Schmidt tossed a 4-hitter for the win, striking out nine. Klum was 3-for-4 with three RBI, with Mick, Milbourne, Seavert and Nita Cook all logging two hits. Kodani had two of the four hits for Pacific.
The Owls scored in all four of their at bats in Game 2 – as Staub tossed four innings of 4-hit ball, fanning six.
OIT took a 3-0 lead after one inning, taking advantage of four walks, with Seavert delivering an RBI double in the frame.
Pacific responded in the second, as Ellie Ishikawa singled home a run, but a strong throw from left field from Zoe Allen cut off Kimberly Ray at home plate to thwart the rally.
Tech built off the momentum in their second, getting a 2-out RBI triple from Mick, a RBI single from Klum and a long 2-run homer from Milbourne, grabbing a 7-1 lead.
The Owls added a 7-run third – getting RBI doubles from Addison Kachnik and Allen, a 2-run double from Malia Mick and a 2-run single from Staub – closing the scoring in the fourth on a Klum 3-run inside the park home run.
Kaila Mick was 2-for-2 and scored four runs, Klum was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and four RBI, while Allen, Milbourne and Staub all posted multi-hit games.
The Lady Owls hit the road to Arizona later this week for six games – beginning Thursday at OUAZ.
