EUGENE, Ore. – The year of the long ball continued for the Beacons on Tuesday, this time coming from a different power bat. Junior Kiara Vasquez went deep twice, hitting home runs in consecutive at bats over the two games as the Beacons were swept in a double-header by No. 25 Southern Oregon University, 4-2 and 11-2.
 
NCU (11-25, 5-11 CCC) has now hit 24 home runs on the season and needs just four more to set a new school record. Unfortunately, the bombs weren't enough to get the Beacons into the win column on Tuesday.
 
In game one, SOU scored single runs in the first and third innings and added two more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. The Beacons rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. A solo homer from Vasquez was followed by a pinch-hit single by Madi Jones. Jones later scored on a single by Jessica Garner that saw the center fielder misplay the ball, allowing the run to come home.
 
Katie Walker (1-8) went the distance for the Beacons, allowing just three earned runs on five hits while striking out two batters. For Southern Oregon, Sydney White (10-5) pitched a complete game, striking out nine batters and allowing four hits.
 
The Raiders went on to complete the sweep with a five-inning run-rule victory in the night cap, scoring one run in the first, four in the second and six in the third. SOU had just seven home runs on the season coming into the game but produced three in the contest to blow it open.
 
The Beacons were once again able to stave off a shutout, scoring a run in the second on Vasquez's second homer and then Ashlee Cole drove home a run in the third.
 
Breanne Johnson (4-8) took the loss for the Beacons, allowing five runs in 1.1 innings. Jones was a bright spot for the pitching staff, coming in to throw the final three innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
 
Victoria Mackey (12-2) was victorious for the visitors, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out four in the complete game effort.
 
NCU will return to action on Friday when they play host to Northwest University in a CCC double-header beginning at 2:00 pm.