May 23, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) Oregon Tech (39-12) pitcher Jackie Imhoff carried the Owls to the winner’s round of bracket play with a 7-1 complete-game win over Lubbock Christian (Texas) (52-11) at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship. Imhoff, who has thrown every inning in the tournament in four Owl wins, recorded 12 strikeouts in the game.

The Owls will face Belhaven (Miss.), a 5-2 winner earlier today over William Carey (Miss.). First pitch is 12:30 p.m. CDT.

Lubbock Christian drops into the loser’s bracket and faces William Carey at 12:30 p.m.

After two scoreless innings, Andria Wheatley and Ashleigh Larson rapped RBI-singles to put the Owls on the board in the bottom of the third. Oregon Tech went up 4-0 in the fifth frame thanks to Wheatley’s bat again. The senior from Springfield, Ore., smashed a two-run bomb to score Elsie Goodell. The homer was Wheatley’s first at any level of high school and collegiate play.

Lubbock Christian avoided the shutout in the top of the sixth inning on a RBI-double from Latainna Eltsosie. That run was the first allowed by Imhoff in 26.0 innings pitched in the championship.

Leading 4-1, Oregon Tech’s Sara Coates blasted her second home run of the tournament in the bottom of the sixth. Her three-run drive put the game out of reach.

Imhoff moved to 23-5 on the season as she allowed seven hits. She walked two and added to her impressive championship stats. In 26.0 innings pitched, Imhoff has totaled 36 strikeouts and allowed just one run on 12 hits. She owns one perfect game to her resume, tossed against Midland (Neb.) on May 20.

The loser, Meagan Navarrette, dropped to 17-1 on the season for the Chaps.

Four Owls gathered two hits each, while Wheatley and Coates posted three RBIs. Wheatley scored two runs on the day.

Amanda Parsons led the Chaps with two hits.

The 31^st annual event is played at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

For the complete schedule, click here.