KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest couldn't contain Southern Oregon's lineup for long Saturday as the Raiders took their winning streak to eight games with a 7-3, 11-0 sweep of the Eagles in Cascade Conference play at Cedar Park.
SOU (20-4 overall, 7-1 CCC) poked 21 hits on the day, and Taylor Martinez and Davalin Ontiveros provided the big swings: Martinez launched a two-run homer, her fourth of the year, as the Raiders scored three times to break a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning of Game 1, and Ontiveros ripped a grand slam, SOU's first in five years, during an eight-run first inning in Game 2.
Gabby Sandoval went four innings to earn the first decision and improve to 10-3, though Victoria Mackey took the final three innings in relief and allowed just one hit – extending her scoreless streak to 12 2/3 frames. Karlee Coughlin went the distance in Game 2, which was cut off at five innings by the mercy rule, and went to 6-0 with six strikeouts, two hits and no walks.
Kelsey Randall went 5-for-7 to extend her hitting streak to nine games and stole four bases for the Raiders. Kayleen Smith went 4-for-7 with two hits in each game and stole four more.
The Eagles fell to 6-12 overall and 2-6 in the CCC. The teams are scheduled to play another doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, and the first game will be a conference counter.
Tied in the top of the fourth of Game 1, Kayleen Smith reached on a bunt single, swiped second base and was singled home with two outs by Rebecca Velasquez, who went 3-for-5 on the day. The next batter, Martinez, pulled her homer to right field, and Smith tacked on the final run with a single to score Randall in the sixth. Harlee Donovan and Randall had run-scoring hits earlier in the game.
The Raiders poured it on early in Game 2 as 10 of their first 11 batters reached base. After Randall's leadoff single, Smith and Donovan hit back-to-back doubles. And after three walks and a fielder's choice, Ontiveros sent her first home run of the year down the left field line.
Smith, Donovan, Velasquez and Randall each tacked on RBI singles. All four of them reached base four times.
The Raider defense also played error-free ball all day. They've committed two errors in their last five games.
