via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A record-setting streak of NAIA Softball World Series berths came to an end for Oregon Tech, as Paeton Coler limited the Lady Owls offense to just one earned run, as Midland University won the Klamath Falls Opening Round Bracket with a 5-3 decision at Stilwell Stadium.
The Warriors (40-16) used a 3-run fourth inning rally to take the lead for good and escaped jams in the final two frames to advance to the World Series for a fifth time in program history.
Reese Floro got MU on the board in the first, leading off with a double and scoring on an Isabelle Pagan sacrifice fly.
The Lady Owls (45-11) answered in the third, loading the bases on a Marla Goodspeed single and a pair of errors, with Gina Allen blooping a 2-run single to give the hosts the lead.
The edge was short-lived, as Jenna Lemley led off the MU fourth with a solo homer and following a one-out OIT error, Matti Reiling lifted a sacrifice fly and Pagan singled home a run to give the Nebraska squad a 4-2 lead.
Trailing 5-2 in the sixth, Tech got a single from Jayce Seavert and a double from Puakea Milbourne to start the frame – but Coler limited the damage to a Sawyer Stenson sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Nita Cook and Allen each singled with two outs, but Coler coaxed a ground out to end the contest.
Coler allowed seven hits and struck out three in the complete game effort, with Reiling and Lemley each recording two of the Warriors 12 hits.
Allen finished the day 2-for-4 for Tech, who finished the season with 45 wins – the fifth-straight year with 45-or-more victories.
It was the 11th-straight Opening Round championship game appearance for the Lady Owls, with today’s loss snapping a 5-year run at the World Series – the longest since the NAIA began the current format in 2013.
The loss ends the playing careers of four OIT seniors – Seavert, Goodspeed, Zoe Allen and Kacie Schmidt.
