SOU's Megan Winton takes a cut. Photo by Al Case. Raiders, 12th-ranked Owls settle on split 4/8/2015 7:37:00 PM SOU Sports Information ASHLAND – The Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech softball teams came out of a wild Cascade Conference doubleheader with what they probably both deserved Wednesday, a win and a loss apiece at University Field. SOU (27-19 overall, 8-10 CCC) claimed the first game, 6-4, ending an eight-game losing streak in the head-to-head series with the Owls thanks in part to four unearned runs that were the results of four OIT errors, including three in a decisive fifth inning. The 12th-ranked Owls (31-10, 15-4) clubbed their way out of a 6-0 hole in the second game with home runs from Tasha Silvius, Tre Sullivan and Sadie Birch, winning 8-7 to remain in first place. They became the first SOU opponent to go deep three times in the same game at University Field since they did it in 2009. The Raiders remained fourth in the circuit standings going into home twin bills Friday against Northwest Christian and Saturday against Corban that will cap their 14-game homestand. Ally Painter (La Palma, Calif./St. Joseph) went 3-for-4 for SOU in the opener. She and Kelsey Randall (Concord, Calif./Concord) started the first inning with singles, and Randall scored on Krystina Pardoski (Gaberville, Calif./South Fork)'s groundout. The Raiders added two more in the second when Tyler Burke (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood)'s two-out fly to center field was dropped, and they made it 4-0 in the third when Painter doubled and eventually came in on Cortney Nolan (Twin Falls, Idaho/Twin Falls)'s bases-loaded walk. Brianne Craig (Rialto, Calif./Etiwanda) went the distance for her 12th win of the season, allowing just two earned runs. However, two unearned scored in the fifth when Sullivan cashed in on an error with a two-out, two-run single to tie the game. OIT's wheels fell off in the bottom of the fifth with three misplays that each led to Raiders reaching base. The third error resulted in the go-ahead run, and Winton laced an RBI single for insurance purposes. Winton was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. She also saved potential runs in center field with a running catch of a liner in the fifth and a grab at the wall with two on and two outs in the sixth. Alexa Gonzalez (Menifee, Calif./Heritage)'s sharp day at third base was highlighted by the game-ending 5-3 double play she started in the seventh. In Game 2, the Raiders appeared to be on their way to handing the Owls their first sweep of the season. Five straight reached to start the second inning – Megan Scherer (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) led off with a walk, Winton doubled, Kayla Douglas (Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman) singled, Nolan singled and Randall singled – and it was 6-0 by the time Gonzalez laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that also went for a single. OIT's powerful lineup woke up in the third. With the bases loaded and two out, Silvius clobbered the first pitch she saw and sent it over the fence in left field for a grand slam. Sullivan's two-run shot in the fifth tied it, and Birch made it back-to-back homers to give the Owls the lead for good, 7-6. They tacked on one more in the sixth on a first-and-third steal play that scored McKenzie Shrum. Pardoski tripled home Randall in the bottom of the sixth but was stranded at third. The Raiders also got the potential tying run to second in the seventh after Scherer led off with a single, but Rylee Carleton closed them out. Carleton went six innings in relief, allowing six hits and two earned runs. She struck out five. Randall went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Pardoski was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Douglas's was credited with two RBIs for her second-inning single. Tara Moates had three hits for the Owls, who took the season series 3-1.