Southern Oregon Sweeps Twinbill from NCC
ASHLAND, Ore. -- The SOU Raider softball team opened Cascade Conference league play on Saturday in a big way beating visiting Northwest Christian College in a doubleheader 7-3, 2-1.
GAME 1
The Beacons scored a run in the top of the second on a double by Brittany Robles followed by a single by Jenn West. It was 1-0 NCC but not for long.
In the bottom of the inning a walk to Savannah Sanitos was followed by a triple by Megan Laughlin and the game was tied. Laughlin scored the go ahead run on a fly ball to right by Justine Cooper.
The Raiders built up the lead by scoring two more in the third. A one out single to right by Bailey Price scored Ricci Coultas and Alicia Caudill, both of whom singled earlier in the inning. SOU led 4-1.
The Raiders added a single run in the fifth on a doubles by Caudill and Baily Price. In the sixth SOU added two more on three hits including a double by Karla Alvarez. NCC would add two runs in the fifth to cut the SOU lead to 4-3. The Beacons had Darci Bryne reach on an error followed by a single by Cassie Bishop and a two-run double by Amber Kraaz. But in the seventh SOU pitcher Alicia Caudill retired the final six batters she faced.
SOU won 7-3 to improve to 3-10 overall and 1-0 in league play. NCC is 6-13 overall and 0-4 in league play.
GAME 2
This game turned out to be a pitchers dual between Joelle Rickeman of SOU and Darci Byrne of NCC. Neither team scored a run in the first four innings.
NCC threatened in the four with their first hit, a single by Cassie Bishop. But the threat ended after Bishop stole second was thrown out on a double play trying to get to third base. The long NCC run of the game in the top of the sixth when Bishop smashed a home run over the right center field fence.
The Raider ended up with just one hit in the game, that was a base hit by Megan Laughlin in the second inning. She stole second but was left stranded there after Justine Cooper struck out and Karla Alvarez lined a shot to third.
SOU was helped by five NCC errors, including two costly errors on pitcher Darci Byrne in the bottom of the fifth. A walk to Riekeman started it off then an error by Bryne allowed Caudill to get to first base. Rickeman went to third and Caudill stole second, putting runners at second and third with one out. Ricci Coultas hit ball back to the pitcher who made a poor throw to first and two runs scored giving SOU a 2-0 lead. The Bishop homer cut the lead to 2-1 but SOU hung on to win the game.
Reikeman retied the side in order in the top of the 7th and SOU had swept the doubleheader. SOU is now 4-10 overall and 2-0 in league play. NCC fell to 6-13, and 0-5 in league play. SOU hosts Oregon Tech Tuesday, March 25 at 2 p.m. at University Field.