Lady Owls Season Ends at Home
Oregon Tech falls to Our Lady of the Lake in the NAIA Opening Round title game, closing the college careers of nine seniors
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The final out came quietly, but the weight of the moment did not.
Oregon Tech’s softball season came to an end Thursday at Stilwell Stadium, where Our Lady of the Lake defeated the Lady Owls 5-3 in the Klamath Falls Bracket championship game of the NAIA Softball National Championship.
For Oregon Tech, the loss ended a 43-10 season, another deep postseason run, and the college careers of nine seniors who helped keep the Lady Owls among the NAIA’s most consistent softball programs. Tech was playing in its 12th straight Opening Round title game, chasing one more win that would have sent the team back to the NAIA Softball World Series.
Instead, Our Lady of the Lake turned early Oregon Tech miscues into runs, built a lead in the middle innings, and held off the Lady Owls’ late chances to claim the bracket title.
Oregon Tech struck first. Nita Cook opened the game with a single and later scored on a two-out RBI single from Sawyer Stenson, giving the Owls a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The lead did not last. Our Lady of the Lake answered in the bottom half of the inning after Arianna Alejandro singled and advanced on an Oregon Tech error. Reanna Aguirre followed with a bunt single, and Caitlin Casas tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Aguirre later scored on a passed ball, putting the Saints ahead 2-1.
Another Oregon Tech error helped Our Lady of the Lake add a run in the second inning, stretching the lead to 3-1. The Lady Owls responded in the third when Cook doubled and later scored on an Addison Kachnik sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Saints added what proved to be decisive insurance in the fourth inning. Tania Rodriguez homered to left field, and Marina Litterio later singled to bring home another run, giving Our Lady of the Lake a 5-2 lead.
Oregon Tech kept pushing. Hayden Rockwell singled in the fifth and scored when Kachnik’s single to right was misplayed, bringing the Owls within 5-3. Tech put two runners on again in the sixth after singles from Puakea Milbourne and Leah Huffman, but the Owls could not find the hit that would turn the inning into a rally.
Cook finished 3-for-4 in her final collegiate game, including a double and two runs scored. Kachnik, Rockwell, Stenson and Milbourne also recorded hits in their final game with Oregon Tech.
For Our Lady of the Lake, Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a home run, while Valeria Vielma earned the win in relief, allowing one unearned run over four innings. The Saints improved to 43-11 and advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia.
Oregon Tech’s season ends short of the destination the team wanted, but not short of meaning. For the seniors, Thursday’s game marked the end of years spent building memories, chasing championships, and carrying the standard of Lady Owls softball.
The scoreboard showed a 5-3 loss. The season showed much more.
Cover Image: Oregon Tech’s Nita Cook celebrates during the Lady Owls’ NAIA Opening Round title game against Our Lady of the Lake at Stilwell Stadium. Photo courtesy Oregon Tech Athletics / Hunter Drops.
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