Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University softball team kept their playoff hopes alive on Tuesday, sweeping Southern Oregon University 8-0 and 3-2. It was the first sweep ever for the Beacons against their foes from Ashland.  
 
With the sweep Northwest Christian improved to 9-22 overall including a 8-12 mark in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The Beacons jumped into a fifth-place tie in the CCC with defending champ Corban. Southern Oregon drops to 12-14 overall and 11-7 in the CCC, remaining in fourth place.
 
NCU's Jill Suratt (4-6) pitched all 13 innings for the Beacons on Tuesday to pick up both wins. She allowed just seven hits while striking out two batters and allowing just two earned runs. Senior Gabby Stover (pictured) fueled the offensive attack with a 4-for-7 day at the plate that included doubles in each game.
 
Head Coach Julie Strand said, "We needed those two wins because if it comes down to it, we want to have the season series from those guys, which now we do. I was happy to see the way we kept battling in each game and kept the intensity level up to break through when we needed. We had timely hitting and amazing defense tonight."

GAME ONE

NCU got the party started early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Randi Kostner drew a walk, followed up by an RBI double from Stover. Stover scored on an error that put Suratt on base and then Suratt came home on an RBI single from Parker Bonife.
 
Suratt would hold onto the lead and the eventual shutout, scattering just three singles in the game. The Raiders would put just one runner into scoring position in the contest.
 
The Beacons continued to throw punches, finally getting the knock-out blow with a five-run sixth inning to earn the run-rule victory over SOU. The inning was highlighted by a two RBI single by Addy Hoskins and a walk-off single by Bonife to end the game at 8-0.
 
Bonife finished the game batting 3-for-4. Laynee Bevans, Hoskins, Stover, and Suratt all had two-hit games for the Beacons who tagged Southern Oregon starting pitcher Brianne Craig (5-5) for seven runs on ten hits. The Raiders also fell victim to six errors in the contest, accounting for three unearned runs.

GAME TWO

The Beacons went back to work early in game two, taking an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on second and third, Randi Kostner hit a grounder to first base where the ball was bobbled allowing both runners to come home.
 
In the fourth inning the Raiders put together a string of hits for the first time, using a Alexa Gonzalez double, Sulie Augustine single and Julia Willison double in consecutive order to tie the game, 2-2.
 
Raider starting pitcher Sydney White looked to be in control, putting on a clinic as she struck out ten batters in the game. It was another error, however, that did SOU in as the Beacons were able to score the deciding run in the bottom of the fifth. Bre Johnson reached on an error at shortstop to open the inning, later scoring on a double down the left-field line by Kostner.
 
NCU had five hits in the contest with Stover hitting 2-for-3. Augustine went 2-for-3 for Southern Oregon.
 
Northwest Christian University will be back in action on Friday afternoon, looking to continue their climb up the CCC standings when they take on The College of Idaho. NCU swept with the Yotes in Idaho earlier this season. First pitch for the double-header is scheduled for 2:00 pm.