4/30/2010 6:16:03 PM
The Southern Oregon softball team kept Cascade Conference postseason tournament dreams alive with a split with fourth-ranked Concordia today in Portland.
Concordia (30-4, 19-3) quickly won the first game today 9-0 and with the playoffs on the line, the Raiders (16-22, 12-12) came back to win the second game 5-3.
With the split, the Raiders need Concordia to sweep Oregon Tech Sunday in Portland. If the Cavs do sweep the Owls, the Raiders and Owls would end up tied in the conference standings and advance thanks to the second tiebreaker - a 2-2 record against first place Concordia. Oregon Tech would finish the season 0-4 against the Cavs.
After dropping the opener, the Raiders responded to the must-win situation in the night-cap - even after falling behind 3-0 after three innings.
In the fifth inning, the Raiders finally came alive. Freshman Jessica Flores led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the lead to 3-1. After Bailey Price walked, senior Karla Alvarez singled into left field to put a pair of runners on and Kathryn Moy came through with a two-run single to tie the game.
In the sixth, junior Sarah Wharton slamed a two-run home run and freshman Lauren Keel allowed just one hit over the last two innings to give the Raiders the victory.
Moy, Justine Fulton, Wharton, Flores, Emily Matekel and Alvarez all had hits for the Raiders.
In the opener, SOU starter Karri Johson kept the Cavs somewhat in check until the sixth inning with they scored seven runs to end the game 9-0. Concordia pitcher Renee Santos limited the Raiders to just one hit.
Of Concordia's three conference losses and four overall setbacks, two have come to the Raiders.