Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. – It might have been Senior Day at James Park, but it was a sophomore who stole the show as the Northwest Christian University softball team swept a double-header from Eastern Oregon University on Saturday, 11-6 and 5-2. Parker Bonife had a monster day, batting 4-for-7 with three home runs and six runs batted in.
 
The victories keep Northwest Christian University (11-24, 10-14 CCC) in the hunt for the post-season as they battle with Southern Oregon and Corban for the final playoff spot. Eastern Oregon drops to 17-21 overall, 7-19 in the CCC with the two losses.
 
NCU will close out the regular season with four crucial games against Corban University (24-18, 11-13). The Warriors took three non-conference games from NCU earlier this season with all four CCC contest left to play. NCU will host Corban for a double-header on Tuesday, beginning at 2:00 pm.
 
GAME ONE - NCU got off to a quick start in the opener scoring two runs in the first inning on RBI singles from Randi Kostner and Jill Suratt. Eastern went on to tie the game, 2-2 on a two-run homer by JoElla Smith in the third inning, but NCU got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning when Kostner scored on a throwing error when the Mounties attempted to mow down a stolen base attempt by Gabby Stover.
 
Bonife opened up the bottom of the fourth inning with a double and the scored on a double from Bre Johnson and the Beacons stretched the lead to 4-2.
 
Eastern, however, made a charge to take their first lead of the game, scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Georgianna Kelly reached on an error with what should have been the third out and two runners scored to tie the game. The next batter, Nicole Redd, then laced a two-RBI triple through the left side, scoring Kelly and Gracie Flyg. EOU was now ahead 6-4 thanks to four unearned runs.
 
NCU responded in impressive fashion in the bottom of the sixth, also taking advantage of an error as they scored seven runs in the frame, all unearned. Jazzy Villarruel opened the inning reaching on an error. A single from Johnson and a Chelsea Hannon groundout put runners at second and third. Laynee Bevans then lined out for the second casualty of the inning, but the Beacons would not be silenced. Addy Hoskins smacked a two-run double to tie the game and Kostner followed with single. Eastern walked Stover to load the bases, only to see them quickly cleared by a three-RBI triple from Suratt. After a pitching change, Bonife smashed her first offering from Lily Smith over the left field wall, scoring Suratt to give NCU the 11-6 lead.
 
Suratt threw a complete game in the circle, picking up her fifth win of the season. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four batters. Lindsey Walchli (16-16) took the loss for Eastern Oregon, allowing three earned runs on 12 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
 
GAME TWO - NCU got things going quickly again in the second game, scoring three runs in the first. Bevans led off with a single and a stolen base. Then, with two outs, Suratt collected her fifth RBI of the day with a single up the middle to plate Bevans. Bonife was up next and this time she sent the Lily Smith offering the opposite direction for a two-run bomb over the right field wall.
 
Eastern added single runs in the third and fourth innings, leaving little cushion for starting pitcher Jordan Bennett as NCU clung to a 3-2 lead. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Bonife provide some breathing room with her second home run of the game, a shot to dead left field, scoring Stover to give the Beacons the 5-2 lead.
 
Bennett finished things off in the seventh, tossing her first complete game off the season to earn her first victory of the year. The senior allowed two runs off eight hits while striking out three batters.
 
Smith struck out one batter and surrendered just six hit in her complete game effort, at one point retiring 12 straight batters before NCU's insurance runs in the sixth.