2/4 p.m. Thursday – Northwest Christian at #21 SOU – Live Stats | Live Stream
1/3 p.m. Friday – Northwest Christian at #21 SOU – Live Stats | Live Stream

ASHLAND – Another bleak forecast forced another alteration in the Southern Oregon University softball team's Cascade Conference schedule.

To avoid the weekend rain, the second-place Raiders (25-8 overall, 11-4 CCC) and the last-place Northwest Christian Beacons (2-25, 2-13) have moved their four-game series up a day. The first doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. Thursday at University Field, and first pitch for Friday's twin bill is slated for 1 p.m.

The Raiders were swept last weekend at Corban, putting an end to their 13-game winning streak and giving them four straight losses for the first time since 2014. Those outcomes placed them in a three-way tie with Oregon Tech – which they visit next week – and Eastern Oregon, one game behind Corban.

NAIA Top 25: SOU dropped three spots to No. 21 in Tuesday's latest coaches' poll, which was the second edition of the regular season. At No. 18, Corban jumped the Raiders and No. 25 Oregon Tech to make its first appearance since 2015. On a positive note, the CCC is represented by three teams in the Top 25 for the first time in two years. Oklahoma City remains the unanimous No. 1 with a 36-0 record. The next poll will be released on April 18, following SOU's critical series at OIT.

Short Hops:
– Over the weekend, Victoria Mackey extended her scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings over eight relief appearances this year and 27 2/3 innings over 10 appearances dating back to last year. Opponents are batting just .147 against her, including a 3-for-30 mark with runners on base.
– Karlee Coughlin's perfect record (8-0) is also intact. The Raiders' 2.18 team earned-run average ranks second in the CCC despite the fact that 183 2/3 of their 224 1/3 innings pitched have been provided by true freshmen.
– Kelsey Randall's hitting streak is still alive at 18 games, tying a team record, a stretch in which she's hit .576 (38-for-66) with 18 runs scored.
– Behind Randall, SOU is also getting plenty of production from the second and third hitters in the lineup. Kayleen Smith leads the CCC in runs scored (34), stolen bases (26-for-28) and sacrifice bunts (9). And in conference play, Harlee Donovan is batting .431 with nine extra base hits (no other Raider has more than five) and 19 RBI (no other Raider has more than nine).
– The Raiders had gone 43 games without being shut out until Corban blanked them two games in a row Sunday.

About Northwest Christian:
– The Raiders lead the all-time series with the Beacons, 49-11. They've won seven straight matchups.
– The Beacons, who went 11-17 in the CCC last year but lost 11 players, have dropped 18 consecutive games overall. They last won on March 5.
– Jessica Garner is hitting a team-best .323 and is 13-for-14 on stolen-base attempts. Tra Kucera, a freshman product of North Medford, serves as the starting catcher and is batting .228. As a team, the Beacons hit .225.
– Katie Walker, the team leader in innings pitched (90 2/3), comes into the weekend with a record of 2-12. Opponents are hitting .289 against her.