EUGENE, Ore. – The post-season hopes for the Northwest Christian University softball team were dashed on Friday as they were swept by No. 17 Concordia in the penultimate double-header of the season. The Cavaliers won 12-1 and 11-3 to keep their own CCC championship aspirations alive.
 
GAME ONE
 
Concordia collected ten hits in the opener scoring four runs in the second inning and adding two more runs in the fourth and sixth. A four-run seventh put the game completely out of reach.
 
NCU scored their lone run in the third inning when Parker Bonife came home on a double from Taylor Medley.
 
Jillyn Suratt (7-14) took the loss for the Beacons, allowing seven earned runs over five innings of work. Lucy Baldovino (21-3) got the victory for Concordia, allowing one earned run and three hits while striking out a pair.
 
Meaghan Luebbert paced the offensive attack, batting 3-for-4 with three doubles, three runs scored and six RBI. It was her bases-clearing double in the second inning that set the tone for the visitors. Mariah Jimenez went 2-for-3 for the Cavs, scoring three times.
 
GAME TWO
 
For the second straight game NCU managed just four hits which wouldn't be enough against the top offensive team in the CCC. Concordia once again jumped on top early, scoring six runs in the first inning, all unearned.
 
The Cavaliers added two more in the third but the Beacons answered with all three of their runs in the bottom of that inning as Suratt, Addy Hoskins, and Ashlee Cole (pictured) contributed RBIs. Cole would end the game batting 2-for-2 with a double.
 
Concordia pounded out 12 hits, led by a 3-for-3 day from the number-nine hitter Sam Owirka. Destinee Chang and Taylor Copher added two hits apiece.
 
Tori Muir (3-2) collected the win with 2.1 effective innings of relief work, not allowing a hit while striking out two batters. Breanne Johnson (0-4) suffered the loss for the Beacons going just one inning and allowing six unearned runs on five hits.
 
Concordia (38-12, 19-5 CCC) returns to action on Saturday with a key double header against No. 23 Corban University. Meanwhile, NCU will host Northwest University (12-22, 8-18) for a senior day twin bill. Both events are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.