The Southern Oregon softball team had a lead in both games and came away with a key split with fifth-ranked Concordia during senior day today at University Field.

Concordia (27-3, 16-2) won the first game 5-2, while Southern Oregon (14-20, 10-10) won the nightcap 3-1.

The split keeps the Raiders right in the middle of a tight race for the final two of three conference playoff spots.

In the nightcap, Southern Oregon got impressive pitching performances by freshmen Lauren Keel (Fullerton, Calif./Rosary) and Jessica Flores (Corning, Calif./Corning).

Keel went 5 and 2/3 innings and scattered five hits and allowed just one run. Flores came in and closed out the game with an inning-and-a-third of hitless ball.

The Raiders got the offense going in the fourth innings, all with two outs.

Junior Sarah Wharton (Ontario, Ore./Ontario) got things started with a single to center. After a walk to junior Emily Matekel (Colfax, Calif./Colfax), senior Karla Alvarez (Modesto, Calif./Johansen) put the Raiders up 1-0 with a single to left. Rayna Okimoto (Honolulu, Hawaii/Aiea) then drove in two runs with a double to left to give the Raiders all the runs they needed.

Wharton had two hits for the Raiders.

In the opener, the Raiders jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a double by senior Meghan Laughlin (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute).

The Raiders added another run in the second at Wharton tripled and scored on a passed ball.

But that would be it for the SOU offense.

Concordia got on the board in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Tina Garcia and then blew it open in the fifth.

Kayla Vickaryous started the rally with a lead off double and the big shot came on a two-run double by Becca Gawlista.

Danielle Pulfrey pitched the final six innings and gave up just one hit to pick up the victory for the Raiders.