Imhof Perfect, Oregon Tech Takes Out Midland Lutheran 3-0
05.20.2011
Jackie Imhof pitched a perfect game to lead Oregon Tech to a 3-0 win over Midland Luthern Univeristy (Neb.). (photo by Kelly Caleb)  |
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Jackie Imhof was perfect, 21-up and 21-down, to lead Oregon Tech past Midland Lutheran University, 3-0, on the second day of Pool play action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship Friday.
Imhof struck out 11 Warriors to pick up her 21st victory of the season, and recorded her second no-hit performance of the season. It was the first perfect game at the National Championships since 2006 and the third no-hitter over the first two days of Pool play this season.
Oregon Tech moves to 37-12 on the season and will face No. 2 ranked Trevecca Nazarene University in game 3 of Pool play Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m. PDT. Both Oregon Tech and Trevecca Nazarene are 2-0 in Pool play with the winner of Saturday’s contest advancing to the eight-team double elimination championship round beginning on Monday.
All Oregon Tech games will be broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on KLAD 960 AM with Bobby Thompson and Mike Garrard calling the action. Live Stats are also available at oitsports.com.
Tech threatened early in the game but after three complete innings the game remained scoreless.
Oregon Tech Celebrates after 3-0 win (Photo by Kelly Caleb)  |
Oregon Tech’s Taylor Schmidt and Sara Coates reached on back-to-back two out singles, but MLU pitcher Erica Miller got a ground ball to end the second inning. Shortstop Shauna Collins led off the third inning with a double to deep center, but a line out, ground out and strikeout ended that threat.
Oregon Tech eventually got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning with two runs on three hits.
Brittany Cherry doubled off the left field wall, and with one out Taylor Schmidt followed with her second single to drive in the game’s first run, moving to second on the throw to the plate. After Coates was hit by a pitch, Collins added her second hit of the day, a single that drove in Danielle Sayres who pinch ran for Schmidt. After another Imhof 1-2-3 inning the Owls led 2-0 after four complete.
Back-to-back two out walks from Cherry and Bree Larson in the fifth gave the Owls an opportunity to plate another run, but the inning ended on a ground ball.
Imhof struck out the side in the bottom half, as the Owls still held a 2-0 advantage heading into the final two innings of play.
OIT would add an insurance run in the sixth inning after Andria Wheatley drove in her first run of the series on a single to left field.
Coates was hit by a pitch, while Elise Goodell, running for Coates, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a pass ball. Wheatley then delivered on a 2-2 pitch to give the Owls a 3-0 lead.
Midland Lutheran again went down in order in the sixth with the Owls still clinging to a three-run advantage.
Oregon Tech went down 1-2-3 in the seventh as Imhof looked to pick up her second win of the tournament, with Midland heading to the plate for their last chance.
Imhof delivered as the 6-0 senior finished the game with two ground balls and her 11th strikeout to move to 21-5 on the year.
Shauna Collins and Taylor Schmidt recorded two hits each, while Andria Wheatley, Brittany Cherry and Sara Coates added base hits for the Owls in the win. Cherry and Collins both doubled for the games only extra base hits.
Athletics
View Related News by Tag:
Softball
Athletics Home Archive
Back to all news