SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The stellar Bushnell pitching staff put a scare into the top-ranked team in the NAIA on Friday as the Beacons lost a pair of one-run games to No. 1 Southern Oregon University, 1-0 and 2-1.
 
The Beacons (6-20, 1-12 CCC) received another pair of strong starts in the circle, giving up just three runs, which was the fewest scored by the Raiders (28-2, 12-1) in a double-header this season. Sara Martin (pictured) set the tone, striking out the side in the top of the first and going on to allow just five hits, the best performance against SOU this year.  Emily Cole gave up two runs on eight hits in the night cap.
 
Bushnell wasn't able to get enough going offensively, however, as they were shut out in the opener on four hits by freshman Ayla Davis (17-1), who also came in to pick up her fifth save of the season, shutting down the Beacon threat in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two.
 
Trailing 2-0 going into the final frame, Brooklyn Rondeau struck out to open the inning, but advanced to first base on a wild pitch. Riley Peeler followed with a single up the middle, and after a double-steal, Bushnell had the tying run in scoring position with no outs.
 
Ashlyn Martin gave Bushnell their only run, and gave the Raiders a scare in the process, roping a deep fly ball to the warning track in left field. Mere feet away from a game-winning homer, the ball was deep enough to score Rondeau from third to avoid the shutout.
 
The Beacons finished the day with just seven hits, led by Sara Martin who went 2-for-3 in the opener.
 
UP NEXT: The four-game series against Southern Oregon will conclude on Saturday with the final CCC game at 11:00 am, followed by the non-conference fourth game of the series.