| Box Score 2 Game One Box | Game Two Box

ASHLAND, Ore. –The Northwest Christian University softball team opened Cascade Collegiate Conference play on Friday with a split against Southern Oregon. The Raiders took the opener 9-8 in eight innings before the Beacons took the second game, 9-4.

The win for NCU breaks an eight game losing streak and also topples a 14-game skid against Southern Oregon. The Beacons had not defeated SOU since April 16, 2010. The Beacons also continued their torrid offensive attack, scoring 17 more runs on 16 hits throughout the afternoon. In addition NCU added four more stolen bases, upping the season total to 27 swipes in 13 games.

SOU went on top early, scoring two runs in the first inning and adding a third in the bottom of the third. NCU came back with four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a three-RBI triple by Bre Johnson, her first hit of the season.

Southern Oregon took back the lead in the bottom of the fourth, going ahead 7-4. An RBI single by Parker Bonife in the fifth inning brought NCU to within two. In the top of the seventh inning NCU posted another comeback behind the strength of an RBI ground-out from Gabby Stover and a game-tying single from Jill Suratt.

Unfortunately, the resilient effort was all for naught as Southern Oregon punched in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was an unearned run after a fielding error at shortstop began the inning.

SOU's Brian Craig took the win in the circle, allowing two runs over the final 3.2 innings. Sarah Lawhorn (0-2) was the tough-luck loser for the Beacons, pitching the final three innings without allowing an earned run.

The second game began in the same fashion that the first one ended, with defensive struggles leading to Raider runs. In the bottom of the first, four SOU batters came across the plate as Southern Oregon collected three hits and benefitted from three errors.

Trailing 4-0, the Beacons put on their rally caps one more time with a big fourth inning. Randi Kostner led off the frame with a single and Gabby Stover then reached on a throwing error. Bonife quickly made it a 4-3 game with a home run to right center field, her fourth dinger of the season. The Beacons weren't done, however, soon taking a 5-4 lead on a two-RBI triple by Laynee Bevans. Bevans scored a few batters later on a fielding error, giving NCU a 6-4 advantage.

NCU went on to score three more runs in the seventh inning. Bevans came home once again on an error and Bonife brought in two more runs with a single.

When all was said and done, Bonife had torched the Raider pitchers for five hits on the day with six RBI, and two runs scored. Kostner added a 3-for-7 day, scoring three runs. Four different players grabbed stolen bases in the game.

Head Coach Julie Strand said, "We are getting hits consistently throughout the lineup which is exciting. We are running the bases well. Parker and Randi just continue to rip the ball. They are helping us out tremendously right now."

Katie Walker (pictured) picked up her first career victory for the Beacons, throwing a complete game. The freshman settled down after allowing the four unearned runs in the first inning, scattering four hits over the final six innings.

"Katie did an excellent job on the mound. They were just trying to muscle some hits though the infield and she did a stellar job of working her game and getting the outs that she needed. For us to come down to their home turf I am ecstatic to come away with a split. If we tidy up a few things in that first game we are coming out on top."

The Beacons return to action on Saturday when they travel east to Klamath Falls to take on No. 25 Oregon Tech beginning at 11:00 am.