For the first time in six years a team from the CCC will be crowned the Region I champion. The Owls handed Simon Fraser a 5-4 loss in today's elimination game.
Owls Knock Out Simon Fraser, Meet Yotes For Title
KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon (May 9, 2008)—There will be a new Region I champion crowned today in Klamath Falls, as the Owls handed Simon Fraser a 5-4 loss in today’s elimination game. Simon Fraser has won the tournament six straight years, but this season a team from the Cascade Conference will earn the right to Decatur, Alabama for the 2008 NAIA national championship. The Owls and College of Idaho will now tangle in game #6 of Region I play.
Oregon Tech started the scoring in the 2nd inning on a Simon Fraser wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. SFU answered with two runs in the 3rd on a Meaghan Cumpstone 2-run homerun to take a 2-1 lead. The Owls jumped up 4-2 after plating three runs in the 5th inning, the first on a Katie King RBI single followed by a Brittany Warren RBI single, and the third run on a bases loaded walk.
SFU came storming back to tie the game 4-4 on back-to-back homeruns in the sixth. Cumpstone connected for her second of the game, while Marcie Bruder followed with a solo blast.
Oregon Tech held SFU scoreless in the top of the 7th to set the table in the home half. Tech first baseman Bess Fagan led off with a single and Jenny Austin followed with a bunt single. A wild pitch then advanced the runners and Chelsea McNeil was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter, Bree Larson, was then able to fight off an inside fastball to the shortstop who’s throw to the plate pulled the catcher away from the force out, sending the winning run across.
The Owls Jenni Bittle and Katie King each had three hits with King, Brittany Warren and Jenny Austin each driving in a run. Keri Gesner picked up her first win of the tournament, improving her overall record to 16-6 on the season. Sunceray Titus doubled for the Owls, her 20th this year, and needs only one more to tie the all-time doubles record in a season at Oregon Tech.
Jessie Harris, Chrissy Caviglia and Meaghan Cumpstone each had two hits for the Clan. Harris added a double and Cumperston two homeruns, including three RBI with Bruder adding a homerun for the other extra base hit.
Tech will now play College of Idaho in game #6 of the Region I tournament beginning at 1:30. The Owls will have to win twice and the Yotes will need just one win to advance to the 2008 NAIA national championship tournament held in Decatur, Alabama on May 16th.