KLAMATH FALLS – Oregon Tech defended the NAIA's No. 1 ranking with its first sweep of No. 5 Southern Oregon in eight years, winning 7-0 and 10-2 on Wednesday at Stilwell Stadium.

The top-scoring lineup in the country amassed 21 hits, eight of which went for extra bases, against a Raider pitching staff that had surrendered more than two earned runs just once in the team's previous 16 games. Mckenzie Staub's two-run home run triggered the eight-run rule in the sixth inning of Game 2.

The Owls took a two-game lead atop the Cascade Conference standings, going to 26-5 overall and 16-1 in the circuit. The Raiders, who'd won nine in a row and 15 of their last 16 entering the afternoon, went to 20-6 and 10-3.

In support of Kacie Schmidt's Game 1 shutout, OIT took the lead with three runs in the second inning. Nita Cook's squeeze bunt scored the first before Maggie Buckholz doubled home a pair to start her four-hit day. Jayce Seavert did the rest, clearing the bases with a three-run triple to break the game open in the fourth and later adding an RBI double.

Five two-out runs in the second inning gave the Owls separation in Game 2, as two-run singles up the middle from Seavert and Staub made the score 7-2. Buckholz and Lexi Klum had three hits apiece and combined for three doubles in the contest.

SOU's Ashton Cathey and Lindsey Stripling both contributed two hits in Game 1, and Lauren Weinberg had a pair in Game 2.

Schmidt worked around nine Raider baserunners to keep them off the board, though, and Staub followed her in the circle by allowing just one earned run in another complete game. The duo has accounted for all but one of the Owls' wins this season.

The Raiders will try to turn the page at home, facing Corban in doubleheaders Thursday at 2 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m. The series was originally scheduled to be in Salem, but unplayable conditions forced the change.