EUGENE, Ore. – Despite a combined 30-hit effort by the offense, the Northwest Christian University softball team was unable to come out of the southern part of Oregon with a win this weekend, swept at the hands of Southern Oregon and #5 Oregon Tech.

SOU 3, NCU 2         SOU 6, NCU 2

Southern Oregon took a first inning lead in both games as the Raiders swept NCU in a Cascade Conference double-header on Friday. In the first game Jordyn Kurtz struck out nine batters to lead the way. The Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and the Beacons then tied the game in the top of the fifth. Davis, Amanda Reiss (pictured), and Chelsea Hannon led off with consecutive singles, with Davis scoring on Hannon's hit. A few batters later, Addy Hoskins singled through the right side to score Reiss for the Beacons second run.

SOU scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the sixth. Davis took the loss for NCU in the circle, allowing three runs over five innings. Hannon finished the game batting 2-for-3.

Hannon and Davis each had two hits in the second game, but the Beacons were never able to overcome a three-run first inning, scoring single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Jenna Royce went 3.2 innings and took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits.

OIT 10, NCU 5          OIT 8, NCU 5

The Beacons were hit hard by the Owl's senior day emotional high especially at the hands of senior catcher Kayde Schaefer, who went 6-for-7 on the day with three home runs and seven RBI.

Oregon Tech jumped on starting pitcher Kalyssa Koontz and held a 3-0 lead. The Beacons posted a run in the fourth and then scored three times in the first, taking a 4-3 lead on a two-run home run by Davis, her fourth of the season. OIT, however, posted the next seven runs and save a single run in the seventh inning, won it going away.

Royce (3-11) suffered the loss with 2.1 innings of relief work while Davis and Gabby Stover each had three hits. Stover scored three times and had two stolen bases.

The Owls continued the trend of putting NCU into early deficits, taking a 5-0 lead with three in the second inning and two more in the third. NCU answered in a big way, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of three walks and hits from Stover, Reiss, and Dani Gehrke.

OIT soon broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning, taking an 8-4 lead. Royce shut the Owls down over the final two innings, but the Beacons couldn't answer, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth inning after scoring just one more run. Davis (2-2) took the loss for the Beacons, who were led at the plate by Reiss, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.

Northwest Christian will be back in action on Friday as they are scheduled to host The College of Idaho at 2:00 pm on Friday. The Beacons will play 10 of their final 12 games at home.