SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University softball team put NAIA No. 1 Southern Oregon University to the test on Friday afternoon, fighting into the ninth inning of game two before eventually being swept by the defending national champs, 8-0 and 4-1.
 
In the opener, the Beacons were only out-hit 8-7 but were never able to bring in a run against Raider starter Gabby Sandoval. Alexis Westbrooks (pictured) led the charge, going 3-for-3. Alexa Berry hit the only extra-base hit, putting down a double.
 
Sandoval threw a complete game for SOU, striking out nine batters. Emma Jegtvig took the loss for NCU, allowing six earned runs over 5.1 innings with two strikeouts.
 
The Raiders got production up and down the lineup as Lauren Quirke, Mackenzie Evangelisti and Olivia Mackey each had two hits. SOU also stole six bases in the game with two apiece from Hannah Shimek and Evangelisti.
 
Game two featured a good old fashioned pitching duel as Quirke and NCU's Liberty Walker went toe-to-toe. Neither team had a hit until the top of the fourth inning when Quirke singled before coming home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Katrina Winterburn.
 
SOU held a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning when Alexa Berry hit an RBI single to score Tori Lasker.
 
The game went into extra innings with Southern Oregon pulling out the victory with a three-run ninth. The Beacons opened the top of the ninth with back-to-back errors and all three runs were unearned in a tough-luck loss for Anniyah Farley (0-1). The freshman had come on in relief in the seventh inning and allowed just three hits over three-innings.
 
Quirke lasted into the seventh inning and Sandoval picked up where she left off, throwing the final 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three for her second victory of the day. Quirke also finished the game batting 3-for-4 while Allie Stines went 2-for-5 in the leadoff spot with two RBI and two stolen bases.
 
The teams will be back in action on Saturday for another double-header, beginning with a conference game at 11:00 am. That will be followed by a non-conference tilt at 1:00 pm.