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--> --> SOU junior outfielder Angie Varnado scrambles back to touch home plate to score the tying run during the Raiders' 3-2 victory over Northwest Christian Tuesday afternoon. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA SOU duo shuts down Crusaders By Sarah Petersen Ashland Daily Tidings If pitching is the key in women's softball, the Southern Oregon University softball is on the right path. SOU (21-16) was lifted by stellar pitching performances from freshman Tasha Ford and sophomore Brandi Brown to sweep Northwest Christian in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at the SOU softball complex. The Raiders slipped by the Crusaders 3-2 in the first game and 3-1 in the nightcap. "I was pleased with both pitchers today," head coach James Gravelle said. "I was impressed with Tasha's pitching performance in the first game. Brandi is going to shut a team like this down. She's very consistent." In the first game, Ford allowed a pair of runs off a double and a triple in the first inning, but settled down and scattered five hits the remainder of the game. The SOU offense went scoreless until the fifth inning when freshman Lisa Aitchison nailed a double to left field and moved to third on an Angie Varnado base hit up the middle. Freshman Meagan Humann loaded the bases with a slap bunt. Freshman Krystal Clark followed with a two-run single and Humann went on to score what turned into the game-winning run seconds later on a line drive to left by fellow Ashland High product Lisa Jones. In the nightcap, Brown earned a game-high 11 strikeouts to help capture her 19th win of the season, allowing no earned runs and only six Crusader baserunners. The sophomore from Colton retired 12 straight at one point. "As I get warmer during the course of the game my momentum builds and I start to throw harder," Brown said. "It will be nice to have a day off before this weekend. My arm will be OK and with my team behind me they will help me out. I'll do my best on the mound and rely on my defense for help." In the first inning of the nightcap, sophomore Latisha Inget got on first with an error and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Stacey Marshall. A single by Brown scored Inget and the Raiders were off and running. In the bottom of the third Inget ripped a shot to left for a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch. Stacey Marshall powered a double to center field to score Inget. The Crusaders broke through in the fifth inning to make the score 2-1, but SOU put the game out of reach in the sixth inning when Brown walked and was replaced by pinchrunner Brie King. King quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third off a fielder's choice and scored on an error for the final run of the Raiders to 3-1 victory. The Raiders return to action at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the SOU softball complex where they will play defending league champion Eastern Oregon in the first of six home conference games in four days. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing