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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us May 13, 2005 Raiders live to play another day Foster’s big hit, Gillaspie’s strong arm help SOU move into Region I softball semis By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon’s happy-go-lucky center fielder got nasty at the plate and helped extend the Raiders’ season in the process. SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY JUNIOR center fielder Leann Foster eyes a pitch during Thursday’s Region I softball game against Eastern Oregon. Foster hit a two-run triple in the third inning to help the Raiders advance to today’s semifinal clash against Oregon Tech. Orville Hector | Ashland Daily Tidings Leann Foster smoked a two-run triple in the third inning and all-star pitcher Miranda Gillaspie did the rest, as second-seeded SOU toughed out a 3-0 win over fourth-seeded Eastern Oregon on Thursday in the NAIA Region I softball tournament at University Field. The loser-out victory came only hours after Oregon Tech, SOU’s Cascade Conference rival and the tournament’s No. 3 seed, upset the Raiders 5-0 in the first round. Southern (37-18) bounced back nicely, however, ending Eastern’s season and advancing to today’s semifinals. The Raiders play Oregon Tech (33-16) at 11 a.m. The winner moves on to the finals, where it will have to take two games from defending Region I champion Simon Fraser (29-7) in order to claim the regional crown and earn an automatic berth to nationals. “I was really proud of the way the kids came back,” said Raider head coach Larry Binney, who won’t return for a third season at SOU. “They could have hung their heads and just said, ‘Well, the season’s over,’ but they battled back and we get to play (today). Everything’s sudden death now.” Gillaspie (21-7) allowed three hits and one walk against Eastern in the complete game shutout. She struck out four and retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced. Foster came up with two out and two on after Kara Ray reached on a bunt right in front of home plate. “It seems like I always come up in those situations,” Foster said, “and I love to be in that spot.” She showed why … eventually. Eastern Oregon pitcher Shannon Rasmussen (15-8) threw consecutive strikes to get ahead, but couldn’t finish the job. Foster worked the count full then continued to foul off would-be strikeout pitches. Finally, on the 12th pitch of the battle SOU’s No. 3 hitter crushed a deep shot to right-center. Both base runners scored easily, giving Gillaspie all the run support she would need. “That’s my job on this team and I definitely felt the pressure,” said Foster, who has a team-high 40 RBIs. “(Rasmussen) knows me and I know her so it was a true battle. It was very nerve-racking.” Added Binney: “(Foster’s) a great competitor. She’s the nicest kid in the world, but inside …” Only three more Mountaineer batters reached base over the last four innings. EOU’s Tonilynn Reardon lined out with a runner on first to end the game. SOU’s tournament opener against the Owls was a different story. Raider freshman Alicia Caudill (7-5) got the start and gave up a two-run homer to Amanda Doherty in the top of the first. Oregon Tech pitcher Laura Delplanche (19-10) took over from there. She scattered seven hits over seven innings in an efficient, if not dominant performance. Delplanche was at her best when the pressure was on, as SOU stranded nine base runners. Three of those came in the seventh, when the Raiders loaded the bases with one out. Kara Ray popped out and Foster grounded out to end the game. “I’ve got to give some credit to Laura Delplanche,” Binney said. “She did a great job against us, kept us off balance.” Binney said he will probably pitch Gillaspie in today’s morning game and didn’t rule out using her again if SOU makes it to the finals. That’s just fine by his star pitcher. “I don’t know what the plan is,” Gillaspie said, “but I’ll be ready.” DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams