ASHLAND – Up-the-middle defense was a major strength of Southern Oregon's in 2026, and two players who contributed to it were rewarded accordingly with NAIA Rawlings Gold Gloves from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Friday.

Raider senior Ari Williams earned the spot in center field and junior Lexi Ramirez was the pitcher on the NFCA's all-defensive team, making SOU one of only two NAIA schools with multiple representatives.

Since the NAIA Rawlings Gold Glove program started in 2023, the Raiders have had at least one winner every year. Cayla Williams (2023, pitcher), Jordan Henderson (2024, first baseman) and Sarah Kerling (2025, center fielder) were the previous recipients.

Williams didn't commit an error all season and logged a team-high of four outfield assists. Ramirez, who also played first base, posted a .990 fielding percentage. Both players started 58 games for the 45-15 Raiders.

As a team, SOU had the 13th-best fielding percentage (.971) in the NAIA and gave up just 24 unearned runs. Only nine teams committed fewer errors per game than SOU's average of 0.7, and over the final five weeks of the season the Raiders played error-free defense 13 times.

Ramirez was also named to the NFCA's NAIA All-America second team earlier this week. She went 12-5 with a 2.71 ERA in the circle and batted .336 with 14 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs.

Along with Ramirez, Williams was an All-Cascade Conference performer. She batted .348, hit three home runs and a team-high 18 doubles, scored 46 runs and drove in 45.