Southwestern Oregon Community College’s softball team split a pair of doubleheaders last week, topping Chemeketa twice on Friday but falling to Clackamas in a twin bill Saturday.

The results left Southwestern in fourth place in the ridiculously tough NWAACC South, in front of Chemeketa and behind Clackamas. The Lakers are behind Lower Columbia, ranked No. 1 in the NWAACC, No. 2 Mt. Hood and No. 7 Clackamas. Southwestern is ranked No. 8 in the most recent poll.

The Lakers started things off Friday with a 5-4 win over host Chemeketa on a home run from Annaleisha Parsley in the seventh.

Parsley also pitched six innings of the game, recording six strikeouts while throwing a three-hitter before Chelsea Talbert came in for the seventh, ending the game by tossing two strikeouts and forcing the final batter to pop out to second.

Parsley was 2-for-4 with her home run and a pair of runs scored, while Devin Higgins had a double and an RBI, Amanda Volgarino smacked a double and logged two RBIs while Kaila Johnson went 2-for-2. Southwestern recorded 11 hits in the game.

In the nightcap, Talbert started on the mound and combined with Parsley in the seventh to pitch an 8-0 shutout.

The Lakers out-hit the Storm 12-9 in the game behind another big game at the plate from Parsley, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Meg Harasymczuk recorded a double and two RBIs on a 2-for-4 day. Emily Matekel also went 2-for-4 in the game.

On Saturday, Southwestern traveled to Clackamas and dropped two despite putting a total of 21 runners in scoring position through two games.

Parsley drilled two home runs in the Lakers’ first defeat at the hands of Clackamas, the second coming in the seventh inning of the 5-4 loss in which Southwestern couldn’t overcome a 5-3 second-inning deficit.

Harasymczuk was 2-for-4 with a double, while Matekel went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Parsley pitched a complete game, allowing five hits with five strikeouts in seven innings.

The Lakers out-hit the Cougars 10-7 in the nightcap but failed to score in a 2-0 loss.

“Our 10 hits were scattered, and 10 runners were left on base, with the bases loaded twice,” noted Southwestern assistant coach Jeri Young.

Parsley was 3-for-4 in the game and Krista Vincent had a 2-for-3 showing.

Talbert took the loss on the mound, going the whole way and throwing six strikeouts and allowing seven hits.

The pair of losses dropped the Lakers to 5-7 in NWAACC South play (28-10 overall). Things won’t get any easier this weekend for Southwestern; the Lakers are on the road for doubleheaders Friday at Lower Columbia and Saturday at Mt. Hood.

Lower Columbia has won nine of the past 10 NWAACC titles and has lost just one region game, to Chemeketa.  Two of the team’s other three losses have come to Seattle University.

Baseball team splits

Southwestern’s baseball team split a doubleheader at Chemeketa on Saturday, avenging a 9-0 loss in the opener with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

Lakers pitcher Kris Boele surrendered 12 hits in the opening loss. Southwestern managed three hits and committed two errors to the Storm’s one.

Patrick Patterson took the mound in the nightcap and threw a four-hitter with two strikeouts.

Meanwhile the Lakers had five base hits and just one error.

The split moved Southwestern to 5-15 in the NWAACC South. A scheduled doubleheader at Clackamas was rained out Tuesday.

Golf team shares lead

Southwestern’s men’s golf team heads to the Washington National Golf Club this weekend for its next NWAACC tournament.

The Lakers’ strong showing at the Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, where Southwestern finished second behind Spokane by a single stroke, left the Lakers tied for the lead in the league standings with Walla Walla and Spokane. Teams are awarded points for beating fellow NWAACC foes in head-to-head competition at tournaments.

Heptathlon/decathlon

Southwestern’s Dianne Chong finished fifth in the NWAACCheptathlon, which ended Tuesday at Mount Hood Community College.

Justin Smith was ninth in the decathlon for the Lakers, who compete at Pacific University on Friday.