By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Battle Creek, MI---The No. 8-ranked Express softball team is headed to the Region XII District G championship game after a walk-off home run by Allison Hausch (Bryan/Bryan, Ohio) to give Owens a 2-1 win over No. 19 Kalamazoo Valley C.C.

In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the eighth, Hausch hit a leadoff home run on a 1-2 count off Kalamazoo Valley's Sara Heath, who was 20-1 with a 1.11 ERA heading into the game.

Up to that point, the game was defined by a pitching battle, three hits and an outfield assist. In the top of the fifth, Kalamazoo Valley's Kristen Olson hit a two out solo home run off Express starter Jordan Ratliff (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.) to put KVCC up 1-0.

In the sixth, Kristen Roznoski (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) doubled to center field with one out. Then, with two outs and Roznoski at third, Alaina Haubert (Gibsonburg/Gibsonburg, Ohio) just missed a two-run homer that hit off the wall in left field for a game tying double.

Another huge play in the game came in the second inning when KVCC put runners on first and second with two outs. Olson then singled through the left side, but Express left fielder Kelley Molloy (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) gunned home to get the runner for the final out of the inning.

The game was essentially a pitching showcase as Ratliff and Heath dueled for almost eight innings.

Heath, now 20-2, allowed six hits and zero walks in her seven innings, while striking out seven. Ratliff was one run better as she went eight innings – allowing seven hits and zero walks while striking out two.

Haubert finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Hausch finished 1-2 with her walk off home run.

Owens is now 38-2, while Kalamazoo Valley falls to 36-5.The Express advance to the district championship, where they are one win away from a trip to nationals.