Bailey Price went 2-for-2 in the opener and then hit a pinch hit home run in SOU's win over Indiana Tech.
Raiders Split Opening Day Pair
RIVERSIDE, CALIF. - The Southern Oregon softball team opened up the 2009 season by splitting a pair of games during the first day of the Cal Baptist Lancer Invitational in Riverside, Calif.
The Raiders fell to Belhaven 3-2 in the opener and then rolled to a 9-1 victory over Indiana Tech in the second game.
SOU faces Cal Baptist and Belhaven on Friday.
The Raiders were a half-inning away from ending the first day undefeated.
Southern Oregon led 2-1 going into the top of the seventh inning, but Belhaven found a way to win.
Back-to-back hits put runners on corners for Belhaven and a throwing error on a steal attempt allowed Belhaven to tie the game and move a runner to third. After a strikeout and a walk, Belhaven scored what turned out to be the winning run on a single.
Despite being handed the setback in her first collegiate action, freshman pitcher Jordyn Kurtz struck out four and allowed just seven hits in her seven innings of action.
Junior Bailey Price went 2-for-2 to lead the SOU offense, while Justine Fulton and Karla Alvarez both came away with an RBI.
In the second game, the SOU bats came alive as they pounded out 11 hits.
Kathryn Moy, Kurtz and Joelle Riekeman all had a pair of hits. Price came off the bench for a pinch hit home run and Strohm Fouty scored three runs and had two stolen bases.
Kurtz picked up her first collegiate victory by limiting Indiana Tech to just five hits, while striking out six.