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Alexander’s big bat propels Panthers Saturday May 6, 2017 at 8:42 PM May 6, 2017 at 8:42 PM Jaden Alexander liked going deep so much, she did it twice Saturday as South Medford swept a Southwest Conference softball doubleheader from South Eugene and climbed into a tie for second place. Alexander belted two home runs in the first game, including a grand slam, and had eight RBIs as the Panthers won 13-0 in five innings. They took the second game 11-1 in six innings to improve to 13-7 overall and 10-5 in league. “She’s a powerful kid and swings the bat well,” South coach Miranda Gillaspie said of the sophomore third baseman. “Just to have an overall good game, it was great to see that happen. She showed good discipline.” Alexander was 3-for-3, hitting a three-run home run in the third and the grand slam in the fifth to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule. She also had a double and scored three runs. In the fifth, Rikiyah Bratcher walked, Jewell Burgoyne-Russell singled and Shayna Woods reached on an error. After a Pat Moore RBI single, Alexander delivered. “We know she has the capability to do it,” said Gillaspie. “We’ve been waiting for her to hit her stride, and she definitely did today. She found two pitches she liked.” Alexander has five home runs on the season. Moore was 2-for-3 and scored twice and pitched a two-hitter, striking out 12 and walking three. In the second game, South had 15 hits. Woods was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, Lexis Jones was 3-for-4 with two runs and Burgoyne-Russell was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Moore, who scored twice, and Alexander each had two hits and an RBI. Moore tossed a one-hitter and struck out 14 with no walks. “She threw well today,” said Gillaspie. “Pitch count is big in a doubleheader, and she did well on that.” FIRST GAME South Eugene;000;00;—;0;2;2 South Medford;131;35;—;13;9;0 Clark and Kochevar; Moore and Tatum. W — Moore (12-7). L — Clark. 2B — SM: Moore, Alexander. HR — SM: Alexander 2 (5). SECOND GAME South Eugene;000;100;—;1;1;2 South Medford;241;202;—;11;15;1 Clark and Kochevar; Moore and Tatum. W — Moore (13-7). L — Clark. 2B — SM: Woods 2, Moore, Tatum, Garcia, Jones 2. EAGLE POINT 13-10, SPRINGFIELD 4-0: At Eagle Point, Megan Ayres hit a home run in each game of the Midwestern League doubleheader for eight overall this year and recorded 21 total strikeouts inside the circle. Ayres combined to go 6-for-8 with six RBIs for Eagle Point (17-4, 13-3 MWL), while Gillian Willis also went 6-for-8 with four stolen bases and Miyah Smith tacked on a 4-for-6 performance. Eagle Point limited Springfield (4-19, 3-14) to just three total hits in the sweep. FIRST GAME Springfield;100;030;0;—;4;2;1 Eagle Point;440;122;x—;13;12;0 Vargas and Wolford; Ayres, Shopp (4), Ayres (5) and Thompson, Stevens (4), Thompson (5). W — Ayres (13-4). L — Vargas. 2B — EP: Ayres, Smith. 3B — S: Rodriguez; EP: Willis. HR — EP: Ayres (7). SECOND GAME Springfield;000;000;—;0;1;1 Eagle Point;103;501;—;10;14;0 Ramsey and Jolene; Ayres, Smith (6) and Thompson. W — Ayres (14-4). L — Ramsey. 2B — EP: Ayres 2, Thompson, Smith. 3B — EP: Willis. HR — EP: Ayres (8). BUTTE FALLS 8-7, GLENDALE 3-5: At Butte Falls, Katie Munsell went 4-for-6 with seven RBIs as Butte Falls swept Glendale in District 4 action. Munsell also struck out 14 in the opener and only gave up two hits for the Loggers (13-3, 9-3 Dist. 4). Glendale fell to 12-8 overall and 5-7 in league play.