ASHLAND, Ore. – No. 1 Southern Oregon utilized a pair of strong pitching performances to take two games from No. 23 College of Idaho on Friday at University Field.
With the wins, the Raiders (36-2, 19-1 CCC) take sole possession of the top spot in the conference for the time being.
SOU won the opener by a final of 7-1 before taking the second game by a 7-2 tally.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second after a Riley Donovan sacrifice fly in the first inning of Game 1, the Yotes (30-10, 18-2 CCC) evened the score with a
Tanner Higgins home run over the fence in left.
The Raiders quickly responded in the bottom half though, turning a hit batter and a pair of errors into a run to go back up 2-1.
In the third, SOU rattled off five hits to bring across four runs to build some separation, with a two-run shot off the bat of Katrina Winterburn finishing off the scoring in the frame to make it 6-1.
Allie Stines hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the final run of the game for the Raiders.
Gabby Sandoval (19-0) was the winning pitcher for SOU, working a complete game in which she allowed just three hits and a run while striking out four.
To start off the second contest, the Yotes immediately had a runner aboard after
Haley Loffer was hit by a pitch to lead the game off. Loffer then stole second and advanced to third on a
Kylie Smith sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning,
Kaily Christensen singled to right-center to put the visitors on the board first.
SOU would respond in the bottom half when Donovan hit a fly ball to left that was dropped, allowing Stines to come around and score.
The Raiders added three runs on five hits in the second and three runs on a hit and an error in the sixth.
C of I scored in the top of the sixth on a
Lacie Miller fielder's choice.
For the second game in a row,
Hannah McNerney was effective in relief, going 3 2/3 innings and allowing just one earned run.
Loryn Fonger pitched the final 2/3 of an inning and didn't allow a hit.
The two teams are back in action on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. for another key doubleheader.
