Raiders Edge Eagles in Close Victory
BOTHELL, Wash. – Southern Oregon scored the winning run in the top of the 7th inning for a narrow 2-1 conference victory over Northwest University this afternoon. SOU takes the weekend series 3-0 and improves to 21-4 for the season.
In a pitching duel between SOU’s Karlee Coughlin and NU’s Rachel Hawley, the Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the first inning Kayleen Smith’s infield single scored Kelsey Randall who led off the inning with a single and then stole second.
Northwest U tied the score in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Courtney Heard drove in Aubrey Slocum with a two out double to left field after Slocum singled to get on base.
Neither team would be able to score in the next 4 innings as Coughlin and Hawley were solid in the circle and the defenses came through with key plays. NU left two runners stranded in the 3rd inning and Hawley was able to get out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th inning.
In the top of the 7th inning Aaliyah Oliver led off with a walk and with two outs, reached second on an NU error. Kayleen Smith then came through with a double just inside the left field line bringing Oliver home with the game winning run.
NU’s Karrie Barnes walked to lead off the bottom of the 7th inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and close play at first. After Courtney Heard popped out, pinch hitter Nanea Tali reached first on a fielder’s choice, but Barnes was called out on the base path for interference to end the game.
Rachel Hawley pitched 7 innings for Northwest U (6-13, 2-7 CCC) giving up just 5 hits and 2 runs. Courtney Heard was 1 for 3 with a RBI and Aubrey Slocum was 1 for 2 and scored a run.
For Southern Oregon (21-4, 8-1 CCC), Karlee Coughlin posted her second in in two days scattering 4 NU hits, one run and striking out 6 Eagles. Kayleen Smith was went 2 for 4 and added a RBI and pinch hitter Tiana Brown was 1 for 1. Kelsey Randall was 1 for 4 and scored a run for the Raiders.