SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Southern Oregon softball team completed a perfect four-game stint at the NAIA SB Invitational on Saturday afternoon, chasing a 10-7 win against No. 8-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) with a 5-1 win against Baker (Kan.).
The top-ranked Raiders (13-3 overall) batted .426 as a team at the Invitational and beefed up that number with 14 hits against Central Methodist, which dropped to 6-1.
They capitalized on four CMU errors with eight unearned runs, including three to break a 7-7 tie in the top of the seventh inning. CiCi Kim went 3-for-3 and supplied the go-ahead RBI single with one out, and
Vanessa Lang followed that hit with a two-run single. Lang went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the game.
Lexi Ramirez earned the decision, improving to 4-0, with 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. She also had two hits and scored three runs.
Ayla Davies tossed a complete game against Baker, allowing seven hits and striking out six to make her record 7-2. Ramirez put her in front with an RBI double in the second inning.
Kalea Thomas, who went 3-for-3, followed Ramirez with another RBI hit, and
Avery Coffin's two-run single made it 4-0 in the fifth.
Kierstin Grotewiel went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored, and
Brooke Nordahl was on base three times with a run and an RBI. Ramirez finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate.
The Raiders end their eight-game trip with a doubleheader on Sunday at No. 9-ranked Science & Arts (Okla.). It starts at 10 a.m. PT.