Ashland, Ore. | The defensive woes continued for the Warner Pacific University Softball team (5-25, 3-17) this afternoon, as they dropped the day one doubleheader to the #9 Southern Oregon University Raiders (32-10, 14-6) by final scores of 0-16 and 7-15.
 
Game 1
 
The first game of the four-game series between the Knights and Raiders leaned heavily in the favor of SOU, as an offensive no-show from Warner Pacific left Southern Oregon with an easy trot to victory.
 
After putting up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Raiders blew the doors off this one with 10 runs in the bottom of the second to quickly make this a 13-0 advantage for Southern Oregon.
 
From that point on, SOU tacked on three more runs over the third and fourth innings of offense, totaling 16 runs and 17 hits with zero errors by either team. A pure offensive showcase that ended in a 0-16 5.0 inning loss for the Knights.
 
As if the potent offense wasn't enough for the Knights to deal with, Raiders' starting pitcher Cayla Williams (9-2) had her pitches working from the first inning on, resulting in hardly any base runners for Warner Pacific over the top half of each inning. The one hit of the contest for WPU came with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, when sophomore pinch hitter Morgan Docker sliced a single into right field.
 
Knights' starting pitcher Abby Carlson (3-13) got roughed up for 13 runs on 16 hits over 3.1 innings of work, walking no one and striking out three SOU batters in the process. Junior relief pitcher Emma Foster finished the fourth inning for Carlson to allow three runs on one hit and four walks.
 
Williams completed her 5.0 innings of work by allowing no runs and just the one hit to Docker. She struck out four WPU batters, and walked two along the way.
 
A complete game one-hitter in the circle wasn't enough for Williams, as she collected three hits in three at-bats as the plate as well, scoring a run and collecting three RBIs. Catcher Riley Donovan also batted a perfect plate appearance today, going 2-for-2 and scoring two runs with five RBIs plated.
 
Game 2
 
The second contest of today's doubleheader began in similar fashion as game one, with the Raiders striking first on a single from Donovan that scored second baseman Deja Acosta.
 
However, much to the chagrin of the SOU fans present at University Field, Warner Pacific responded with authority in the top of the second inning for their first offensive showing of the day.
 
Sophomore rightfielder Christina Barrett got the scoring started for WPU, singling to left to score Foster from third base. Three straight singles from junior second baseman Ashley Hawkins, sophomore shortstop Faith Vadelund, and senior centerfielder Paityn Willoughby plated three more runs for Warner Pacific. A sacrifice fly from starting pitcher Sammie Brauckmiller capped a five-run inning for the Knights, giving them a 5-1 lead entering the bottom of the second inning.
 
Brauckmiller (1-8) had a clean inning of work in the bottom of the second, but allowed the Raiders to tie the game back up at 5-5 in the bottom of the third. A two-out solo home run over the left field fence from starting pitcher/third baseman Phelicity Fa'aita knotted this game at five runs each through three innings of gameplay.
 
Southern Oregon took their second lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring six times thanks to a myriad of unearned runs on errors by the WPU defense.
 
Warner Pacific added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to four, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Foster and another single from Docker, each scoring one run each.
 
The powerful SOU offense continued their dominance into the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring exactly the amount of runs they needed (4) to clinch another 5.0 inning win, this time 15-7.
 
Brauckmiller (1-8) dropped the contest after allowing 11 runs, only six of which were earned, on 12 hits through 3.2 innings pitched, while striking out one SOU batter and walking none. Carlson came in on relief to pitch 0.1 innings and allow just one hit, while senior relief pitcher Carrigan Foster pitched 0.2 innings and allowed four runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout.
 
Vadelund collected the only WPU multi-hit game of the day in game two, getting on base on three separate occasions thanks to two hits and a walk, while also scoring a run. Brauckmiller, E. Foster, Docker, Barrett, and Hawkins all earned a hit, RBI, and run scored in their at-bats during the second game of the doubleheader.
 
Fa'aita managed to escape with a no decision after allowing five runs on four hits through 1.1 innings, with a pair of walks and strikeouts as well. Relief pitcher Mayze Menefee (5-2) earned the win after pitching 2.2 innings and allowing two runs on four more hits, with just one strikeout. Relief pitcher Katie Machado completed the fifth inning for Menefee, allowing just one hit and no runs to complete the game.
 
Donovan had herself yet another monster offensive contribution, slashing three hits and scoring two runs, all while adding another five RBIs, making that 10 for the day. Acosta performed exactly as the lead-off batter should, earning trips to the basepaths on every at-bat by going 4-for-4, and completed the trip around the diamond each opportunity for four runs scored.
 
Warner Pacific and Southern Oregon take the field once again tomorrow morning, as the Knights and Raiders will play games three and four of their four-game series starting at 11am, with the non-conference contest beginning shortly after at 1pm PDT.