BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
FOREST GROVE, Ore. – After two separate cancellations due to poor field conditions and a 35-minute delay as both teams waited for umpires to arrive, Corban's softball team went head-to-head with the Boxers of Pacific University of Oregon Tuesday night at Sherman/Larkins Stadium.
Unfortunately, the Warriors could not end its losing skid against their NCAA Division III opponent thanks to an opening 14-6 loss in five innings and a 10-6 loss in the night cap.
Playing against the NCAA's No. 20-ranked Boxers, Corban got three runs on the board in the first inning via three hits. Junior
Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) got a one-out infield single before sophomore
Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) advanced everyone one base via another infield single. Following a walk to senior
Karlee Sisler (Corvallis, Ore.) that loaded the bases, junior
Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.) roped a two-out double to left center that cleared the bases and put the first runs on the board.
Unfortunately, Corban could not hold the lead as its nationally-ranked opponent answered with four runs on three hits. The host Boxers got run-scoring hits from Carrie Maerz and Brooke Fogwell, while the other Pacific runs were scored via a throwing error and a wild pitch.
After a 1-2-3 Warrior second, Pacific tacked five more runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning with the highlight coming off the bat of Chelsey Chamberlain via a two-run home run to left center field.
Following a scoreless third inning, Corban put two runs on the board in the top of the fourth off a pair of hits. Junior
Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.) reached via a dropped fly ball before senior
Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) registered a bunt singled down the left field line before advancing to second on an attempted throw to get the lead runner. The very next batter – sophomore
Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) – singled through the left side allowing Pierce to score from third. After Jones stole second, Franke brought Gaylord home with a sacrifice fly to center field that capped the Warriors' scoring in the fourth inning.
Pacific put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning before Corban added a single run in the fifth off a ground out to short by Schell that scored Kollaer, who reached via a lead off walk.
Leading by five runs (11-6) heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Pacific tacked on three more runs with the final one coming via a wild pitch that invoked the mercy-run rule and handed the Boxers an opening 14-6 victory.
Six different Warriors – Jones, Franke, Kollaer, junior
Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.), Schell, and Gaylord – registered hits, as Schell was the only Corban player to register an extra base hit via her double in the opening inning. Senior
Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) began the game in the circle for the Warriors, as she went 2.0 innings allowing nine runs (all earned) on seven hits before handing the ball over to Sisler for the final 2.2 innings of work.
Pacific was led by Kristen Croxford, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Pitching-wise, Miranda McNealy went the distance allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits to go along with a game-high tying three strikeouts.
In the night cap, Pacific jumped on the board quickly in the first inning with five runs on six hits. Maerz, Fogwell, Brooke Toy, and Ashley Billingsley registered run-scoring hits, as Toy roped the Boxers' only extra base hit in the inning.
Corban finally got on the board in the third inning when Schell walked with the bases loaded to score Kollaer, who reached via a one-out fielder's choice. The very next batter – freshman
Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) – brought Steigleman home via a single to left field that brought the Warriors within three runs (5-2).
Two innings later, Pacific would add another two runs on three hits with the highlight coming off the bat of Jordan Mittelsdorf via a two-run double down the left field line.
The visiting Warriors would add another two runs in the top of the sixth off a pair of hits. Kollaer registered her first RBI of the evening via a fielder's choice that scored Pierce before Steigleman tripled to right center scoring Kollaer from first.
Trailing by three runs (7-4) heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban watched as Pacific tacked three more runs on the board via three hits. Mittelsdorf's two-run triple to center field would score the Boxers' final runs of the night, as Pacific took a six-run lead (10-4) into the final inning.
In its last at-bat of the night, Corban pulled within four runs via a pair of runs off two hits. Freshman
Rebecca Anni (Independence, Ore.) led off the frame being hit by a pitch before advancing to second off a single to center field by Pierce. The very next batter – Franke – would advance everyone one base with a single to left field that loaded the bases with one out. Gaylord would bring home the Warriors' fifth run of the night cap thanks to a fielding error by Pacific's pitcher before Kollaer scored Pierce with a sacrifice fly to left field that capped the night's scoring.
Pierce would lead the Warriors' offense with a pair of hits in three at-bats, while four other Corban players – Franke, Gaylord, Steigleman, and Wagner – would register one hit each. Wagner pitched the opening 4.1 innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on 13 hits before turning the ball over to freshman
Twyla Baggarley (Hillsboro, Ore.) for the game's final 1.2 innings.
Pacific was led offensively by a trio of three-hit performances by Croxford, Toy, and Billingsley. Three different Boxer pitchers combined to throw the complete 7.0 innings, as the trio allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits to go along with a combined 10 K's.
With the sweep, Corban falls to 3-7 overall compared to Pacific's season-opening 2-0 record. The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, February 21st, when they take part in the Northwest Cup against Whitworth at 9:00 a.m. and Puget Sound at 1:00 p.m. at Delta Park in Portland.
