ASHLAND – A handful of runs would go a long way in helping the Southern Oregon University softball team forget about its 1-7 start. Especially if they were to be accompanied by wins on the opening weekend of Cascade Collegiate Conference play.

The Raiders will play visiting Northwest Christian (1-10 overall) at 2 p.m. on Friday and Corban (13-5) at 11 a.m. on Saturday at University Field – the first of five home doubleheaders in a 12-day span to start the CCC schedule.

The Raiders will only be leaving 11 runs behind with nonleague play, albeit against three teams with a combined record of 60-9. Considering a 31-day break that preceded last week's games against Simpson, though, eighth-year head coach Kim Fritts isn't close to pushing the panic button.

"It felt like we had some of those first-game jitters again at the plate against Simpson," Fritts said. "We need to get some more innings under our belts but we're going in with a good, positive attitude and just trying to focus on one pitch at a time. We still have very high hopes for this team."

Since the program returned in 2001, SOU has never played so few games entering conference play.

Outfielder Sulie Augustine (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and catcher Julia Willison (Reno, Nevada/McQueen) have been SOU's hottest hitters thus far, accounting for 15 of the team's 39 hits. Augustine is batting .400, and Willison (.368) owns an on-base percentage of .500 and team-bests of three doubles and five runs scored.

Northwest Christian may hold the keys to getting the rest of the Raiders going; the Beacons' staff has allowed 111 hits in 63 innings, resulting in an earned-run average of 7.89. They do, however, feature four players batting over .300: Parker Bonife (.407), Randi Kostner (.355), Laynee Bevans (.333) and Jill Suratt (.303).

The Raiders have swept the last three season series against NCU, winning 13 straight overall. The Beacons were picked to finish sixth in the CCC preseason coaches' poll but haven't finished better than seventh since joining the league in 2008.

Corban ended a string of three consecutive runner-up finishes with its first regular season CCC title in 2013. However, that team's most important piece, NAIA home run record-holder Stephanie Hull, is now an SOU assistant coach.

Solid pitching is responsible for the Warriors' early success. Samantha Gutwig (3-1, 1.75 ERA) and Jessica Slate (4-1, 1.95 ERA) have been consistent but not overpowering, combining to strike out 22 while issuing 26 walks in 60 2/3 innings. They're backed by the CCC's leading hitter, shortstop Kyrianna Sorensen, who in the middle of the order is batting .467 and slugging .817 with four homers, nine doubles and 15 RBI.

Corban won three of four against SOU last season and was picked to place fourth in the CCC this year.

"These teams similar to the rest of the conference – a lot of new faces, so we'll be learning more about them as we go," Fritts said. "Honestly, though, we're going to be more focused on ourselves for a while anyway."

The Raiders will also be attempting to clean up a team ERA of 6.70. Brianne Craig (Rialto, Calif./Etiwanda H.S.) provided a positive in that regard last Saturday, throwing the first complete game of her career in a 2-0 loss to Simpson.

"It's all about getting our offense going right now," Fritts said. "Once that happens, and our pitchers don't have to work from behind all the time, I think we'll see some totally different outcomes."