KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – After an exhilarating victory Tuesday to keep the season alive, Jessup knew it would take two wins on Wednesday to punch a ticket to Georgia. A dramatic ending to Wednesday's opener ensured that Jessup would not go home early, but in the end, a trip to the NAIA Softball World Series was not meant to be.
 
Jessup saved perhaps their most dramatic moment of the season for Wednesday. The opening contest, deadlocked at three at the end of seven innings, went to extra innings. Oregon Tech struck in the top of the eighth to go ahead 4-3, putting the Warriors in a spot where they needed a run to stay alive.
 
Sam Lorge answered the call. With one away and Kaela Hangebrauck on base, Lorge hit a line drive into the jet stream Oregon winds that sailed over the fence for a walk-off home run.
 
One day after losing to this Owls squad 2-0, the Warriors scored for the first time against the Owls in the bottom of the fourth, as a perfectly placed bunt from Natalie Nash skipped past all infielders, allowing Hangebruack to score from second. A second run scored on the play thanks to an errant throw, as Lorge scored and Nash made her way to third.
 
Kaylee Winn brought Nash home one batter later on a hard-hit grounder up the middle, giving the Warriors a 3-2 lead.
 
Oregon Tech was first on the board as an RBI double by Kennedy Jantzi in the second put them ahead 1-0. The Owls doubled the lead in the top of the fourth.
 
The Owls tied the score in the sixth as a fly ball got caught in the wind, pushing it over the fence in dead center to deadlock the ballgame at 3-3. Jantzi's second RBI double of the game put OIT ahead in the eighth.
 
Katie Blankenheim made her third appearance of the week, starting in the circle for the Warriors in the opener. Tossing a career-high eight innings, Blankenheim picked up her 22nd win of the season.
 
After a 30-minute intermission, game two got underway, with the Owls scoring in the first inning as a successful double steal put them ahead 1-0. Jessup knotted things up at one on Hailey Hiett's third-inning RBI single.
 
The big blow of game two came in the last of the fourth, as Oregon Tech forced Jessup to go to the bullpen as they scored three in the inning on four hits. Jessup had a golden chance to break back into the game and negate a shutdown inning, but with the bases loaded and one way, Hangebrauck lined into an inning-ending double play.
 
One more run would be scored by the Owls in the last of the fifth, putting Jessup in a 5-1 hole they could not overcome.
 
Jessup pushed Oregon Tech to the brink, forcing the if-necessary game of the NAIA Softball Opening Round. At 39-15, the winningest season in program history has met its end.
 
Oregon Tech advances to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, GA, starting next week.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).