The second-place Southern Oregon University softball team will take its 12-4 Cascade Conference record to Eugene Friday to take on Northwest Christian and wrap up a 12-game road swing.

After winning three of four last week, the Raiders are now one game behind College of Idaho for the league's top record. Each squad has eight remaining CCC games, including a showdown next Friday at University Field that could decide the conference champion.

“We're in a great position, and I've always thought we could be here,” SOU head coach Kim Fritts said. “It just took the girls to believe in themselves, but they're starting to feel like they deserve it and are really reaping the benefits of hard work right now.”

The Raiders defeated Northwest Christian 7-2 and 10-1 at home on April 4, and while the Beacons enter the weekend with a 4-12 loop record, Fritts says her team won't prematurely look ahead to next week.

“I never underestimate NWC,” she said. “They've stolen one from us the last two years, and we can't afford that right now. It's important that we not put too much pressure on ourselves, play our game and hopefully we'll get the bats going.”

Beacon freshman hurler Brooke Davis is holding opponents to a .221 average and enters the weekend with a 1.93 ERA in 101.2 innings. Davis also leads NWC with seven home runs and 19 RBI, and Brittany Robles has a team-high 31 hits and a .388 average.

Southern Oregon's Jordyn Kurtz (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) is now 15-12 on the mound with a 2.46 ERA, but the freshman has already logged 162 innings pitched and is facing eight more potential starts in the next eight days.

“I'm not really worried about Jordyn's arm; she'll be fine,” Fritts said. “She was pitching just about every game for her team last summer, and they played about 80 games. We just need to score some runs for her.”

Centerfielder Meghan Laughlin (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute) is pacing the Raiders' offensive attack with a .451 average, only four points off Deni Rowley's school record, and has knocked in 24 runs.

Senior Strohm Fouty (Polson, Mont./Polson) is hitting at a .441 clip, leads the team with 42 hits, and has stolen 31 bases – just one off the school record.