COSTA MESA, Calif. – Katie Machado and Southern Oregon tripped up red-hot Vanguard (Calif.) and collected another road sweep Thursday afternoon, winning 4-2 and 4-3 at VU Softball Field.

The No. 2-ranked Raiders (9-2 overall), winners of eight straight on the road, got a complete game from Machado in the opener – an eight-hitter in which she struck out seven to improve to 5-0. The back-to-back Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Week then protected SOU's one-run lead in Game 2 by securing the final seven outs to record her second save.

The Lions (11-3) had won 11 consecutive games entering the matchup.

Junior catcher Piper Love continued her torrid start at the plate, going 6-for-8 to raise her batting average to .537. She drove in the first run of Game 1 with a first-inning double, and Jordan Henderson stroked a two-RBI double of her own to make SOU's lead 4-0 in the third. Kailer Fulton went 2-for-3 in the contest, Sammie Pemberton scored twice and Sarah Kerling added an RBI single.

The Raiders struck for all four of their runs in the third inning of Game 2. Hannah Clavelle broke open a scoreless game with a two-run double to the opposite field, and two batters later Jordan Henderson plated a pair with a single into center.

Mayze Menefee got the decision, going 3 1/3 innings in relief to up her record to 4-2. The Lions got to her for a few unearned runs in the fifth, cutting SOU's lead to one on Bianca Morales's two-out hit. Machado ended the rally with a strikeout, leaving two Lions stranded in scoring position.

Vanguard put the tying run on base with one out in the seventh before Machado induced back-to-back groundouts to complete the sweep.

In addition to Love's three hits, Henderson went 2-for-3 in Game 2.

The Raiders play their final non-conference games Friday, visiting No. 19 Hope International (Calif.) for an 11 a.m. twin bill.