Oakland City, IN - Prior to the beginning of the season, OCU Softball head coach
Patti Buchta, in her 29th season at the helm of the Mighty Oaks team, reported that she looked at the upcoming season with high expectations, feeling like this squad had as much depth as any she had ever coached. Her only reservation was that there was a lot of youth on the team, especially after the 2020 season ended abruptly due to COVID restrictions, and that there were a lot of key players who would need some time to catch up to the speed and talent level in the college game.
Her predictions proved true, as an early 3-3 record turned into a 7-26 mark, including a 14-game losing streak, after April 17. However, the team began coming together at the right time, making a late push to win seven of their final eight games, coming one game away from making the conference tournament in their first year as a member of the River States Conference.
Carrying a record of 14-26, the Oaks earned the top seed in the NCCAA Mideast Regional Tournament by virtue of their strength of schedule. The Alice Lloyd College Eagles, with a record of 23-20, earned the second seed, while the Royals of Johnson University took the third seed with a mark of 5-23.
Game one saw the Eagles knock off the Royals 14-5 in the double-elimination tournament, pitting Alice Lloyd against the Oaks.
After OCU held the lead throughout the majority game two, the Eagles fought back to tie the score at 7-7 after five complete innings. The Oaks, playing as the guests after losing the pre-game coin toss, scored one run in the top of the sixth, and another in the top of the seventh, giving them a two-run cushion going into ALC's final at bat. A lead-off bunt single, followed by a single to right field, then a walk, saw the bases loaded with no outs.
Madison Marlow, who came in to pitch in relief in the fifth inning, struck out the next batter, surrendered a run scoring single, bringing the Eagles within one run. However, a line drive to senior shortstop
Carmen Deisher was caught, then thrown to third base to double up the runner, ending the game with a 9-8 victory for the Oaks.
In the loser's bracket, day two saw a rematch of the first game, with a similar result. Alice Lloyd again got the better of Johnson, winning 10-5, giving the Eagles another chance to down the Oaks.
OCU struck early, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning, having won the coin toss to play as the home team, thanks to an RBI from
McKendree Ward and a solo homerun by
Ashton Steinbrenner. Ward struck again in the third inning, sending a two-run blast over the wall in left center, giving OCU a 4-0 advantage. Alice Lloyd scored on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the fourth frame, but the Oaks responded with an RBI double by Deisher in the bottom half of the inning.
In the fifth inning, the Oaks held a 5-1 lead, as the Eagles brought in a relief pitcher. After the first two batters failed to reach base safely,
Megan Ghrist drew a walk, followed by an RBI double by
Leah Beach.
Khloye Strickland was hit by a pitch, then
Misty Merter doubled down the left field line, scoring another for the Oaks.
Hannah Gantner drew a walk, loading the bases, setting up a two RBI double by Deisher to end the game at 9-1.
The Oaks, standing at 16-26 on the season, earned their first berth into the NCCAA National Championship since 2018, and their first regional title since 2016. They await the conclusion of the other Regional Championships to learn their seed in the NCCAA National Championship, held in Easley, South Carolina, May 18-20. The pairings are set to be released on Tuesday, May 11.
For the latest tournament information, check
the NCCAA Softball Championship website.
