CLACKAMAS, Ore. - They had to wait nine days to finish the job but the Northwest Christian University softball team did just that on Sunday, knocking off The College of Idaho, 11-10 in ten innings.
 
A crazy back-and-fourth battle with the Yotes on April 3 ended due to rain in the ninth inning with the teams tied 10-10. The Beacons had lead 9-6 headed into the seventh inning but the College of Idaho scored four runs to take a 10-9 lead. Parker Bonife stretched the game into extra innings with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh and the teams remained knotted until the skies opened.
 
Clackamas Community College became the host school for the conclusion of the game on Sunday. The College of Idaho was able to get runners in scoring position in both the ninth and tenth innings, including bases loaded in the tenth, but each time the Beacons were able to get out of the jam.
 
In the bottom of the tenth, Katelin Downes put a one-out single into center field and with two outs, Kaeli Massetto walked. A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third and the very next pitch was also mishandled by the Yote catcher, allowing Downes to come home for the game-winning run.
 
Jill Suratt picked up the victory for NCU, going the final 5.2 innings as she allowed just two earned runs and struck out four batters.
 
The Beacons collected ten hits in the game including a 3-for-4 day for Bonife who scored three runs and had five RBI. Although the bulk of her efforts came a week earlier, the statistics became official on Sunday and pushed Bonife over the top to become NCU's career RBI leader with 81.
 
NCU will now close out the season with their final six games at home. The Beacons (11-29, 8-14 CCC) will host No. 23 Corban University on Wednesday at 2 pm. Then the weekend will see the regular season come to a close with No. 19 Concordia on Friday at 2 pm and Northwest University on Saturday at 11 am.
 
The Beacons currently sit three games behind Southern Oregon University for fourth place in the conference. SOU also has six games remaining on their schedule, all on the road. The Raiders are 2-6 in conference road games this season.