KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Dickinson State's 25-game winning streak came to an end Monday as top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Oregon Tech defeated the fifth-seeded Blue Hawks 4-0 in the NAIA Softball Opening Round at Stilwell Stadium.
The loss moved Dickinson State to 41-13 on the season. Oregon Tech improved to 42-8 and advanced in the winner's bracket of the Klamath Falls Opening Round.
Dickinson State will continue postseason play Tuesday in an elimination game. The Blue Hawks will face the winner of No. 4 Arizona Christian and No. 3 St. Thomas (Fla.) at 5 p.m. MT.
Oregon Tech pitcher Kristine Schmidt kept the Blue Hawks off the scoreboard, throwing a complete-game shutout. Schmidt allowed two hits, walked two, hit one batter and struck out four over seven innings. She improved to 19-4 with the win.
Dickinson State had its best scoring opportunity in the first inning. Celina Wilharm was hit by a pitch with one out, and Brooke Lijewski followed with a single to shortstop. Kiley Hubby moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout, but Schmidt got a groundout to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The Owls took the lead in the second inning when Sawyer Stenson led off with a solo home run to center field. Oregon Tech added two runs in the third on RBI singles from Addison Kachnik and Puakea Milbourne to make it 3-0.
Reagan King started in the circle for Dickinson State and took the loss. King allowed three runs on six hits in three innings, walking one and striking out one. Reannan Butler entered in relief in the fourth and worked the final three innings, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout.
Butler helped keep the Blue Hawks within reach after Oregon Tech put two runners in scoring position in the fourth. The Owls opened the inning with a single and reached on a sacrifice bunt and error before moving both runners into scoring position. Butler worked out of the inning without allowing a run, getting a lineout and a strikeout to end the threat.
Dickinson State put another runner in scoring position in the fifth. Allyson Farrington singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Izzy Kelly followed with a walk, but the Blue Hawks were unable to push a run across.
Oregon Tech added its final run in the sixth. Brooklyn Loose singled, Leah Huffman followed with a single and Hayden Rockwell moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Maggie Pizano then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Loose and extend the lead to 4-0.
Farrington and Lijewski had Dickinson State's two hits. Lijewski also drew a walk, while Kelly had the Blue Hawks' other walk.
Oregon Tech finished with nine hits. Malia Mick and Huffman each had two hits for the Owls. Stenson, Kachnik, Milbourne and Pizano each drove in one run.
Dickinson State turned two double plays defensively but committed two errors. Oregon Tech played error-free softball.
The Blue Hawks entered Monday's second game after defeating Arizona Christian earlier in the day to extend their winning streak to 25 games.
Dickinson State now shifts to elimination play, needing a win Tuesday to remain alive in the opening round. The winner of the Klamath Falls bracket advances to the NAIA Softball World Series.
