KLAMATH FALLS – Top-ranked Oregon Tech's Kristine Schmidt and Allie Parker pitched back-to-back two-hitters and were provided with four home runs in a doubleheader sweep of No. 5 Southern Oregon, 3-0 in seven innings and 9-1 in five on Friday at Stilwell Stadium.

Schmidt struck out 11 in her Game 1 shutout, which Addison Kachnik untied with a solo blast in the fourth inning. Puakea Milbourne backed Parker with a pair of homers in Game 2 before Brooklyn Loose's three-run shot triggered the mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth.

The Owls improved to 36-4 overall and 18-2 in the Cascade Conference, taking a two-game lead in the loss column over Eastern Oregon for first place. The Raiders went to 29-11 overall and 10-7 in conference play.

Ayla Davies had a stellar Game 1 start for SOU, allowing just two earned runs in a complete game. The Raiders' lone hits came from Lexi Ramirez on a single through the infield and Gia Almont on a bunt against Schmidt, whose record shot to 15-1.

They hit Parker (12-0) harder but had almost as little to show for their efforts in Game 2. Trailing 3-0 after the first inning, they put two on with an Ari Williams walk and a Ramirez hit to start the second, and CiCi Kim singled Williams home before they stranded a pair in scoring position.

Their only baserunner the rest of the way was Kalea Thomas, who got wiped on a double play in the third after being hit by a pitch.

On a positive note, regular-season struggles against OIT have not historically been a postseason bellwether. The Owls have now won five consecutive CCC series between the teams dating back to 2022.

Due to inclement weather, the next two games of the series – the third CCC affair and a non-conference counter – were pushed from Saturday to Tuesday. There was an hour-plus lightning delay on Friday after the Owls recorded the first out of the doubleheader.