BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

REDDING, Calif. – Sophomore Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) went a combined 3-for-7 with one run scored and an RBI, but Corban's softball team dropped their season-opening double header, 6-4 & 9-6, to the Lady Red Hawks of Simpson on Friday afternoon at Big League Dreams Sports Park.

After having the site moved to the artificial surface at Big League Dreams due to the amount of rain that had fallen in Northern California over the past 24 hours, the Warriors' bats came alive in their opening at-bat thanks to three runs on a pair of hits.

In the opening frame, Jones led off the game with a single to left field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.).  Following a strikeout and walk, Jones scored the game's opening run on a RBI single to left field by senior Karlee Sisler (Corvallis, Ore.).  After advancing to third on Sisler's single, junior Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) came home via a wild pitch to close out Corban's scoring in the first inning.

Following a two-run home run by Simpson's Candice Valerga in the bottom of the first, freshman Twyla Baggarley (Hillsboro, Ore.) hit a solo home run in her first collegiate at-bat in the top of the second inning to give Corban a two-run lead (4-2).

Over the final five-plus innings, Corban was held without a hit while Simpson's bats came alive.  The host Red Hawks posted two runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning via a two-run single to left field by Nicki Feuerbach before adding a single run in the sixth inning thanks to a RBI single to left field by Paige Gomez.

Jones, Sisler, and Baggarley combined for the Warriors' only hits in the season opener, while senior pitcher Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) went the distance throwing 6.0 innings and allowing six runs (two earned) on five hits to go along with six strikeouts.

In the finale, Simpson got on the board first via a single run in the bottom of the second inning when Nicki Feuerbach led off with a walk before coming home on a Warrior error five batters later.

The score remained in favor of the home team until the top of the fourth inning when Corban exploded for six runs on six hits.  Franke led off the stanza with a single to center before stealing second.  A double by sophomore Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) brought Franke home before Steigleman doubled Kollaer home.  Steigleman would then advance to third on a pass ball before plating the Warriors' third run via a wild pitch.  Three batters later with the bases loaded, senior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) registered an RBI via a ground out before Jones singled home junior Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.) for the Warriors' fifth run of the inning. Corban closed out the scoring via a Franke infield single that plated freshman Ashley Strom (Salem, Ore.) for the Warriors' sixth and final run of the stanza.

Simpson would post a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Corinne Alexander led off with a solo home run to left field before Stefanie Singh belted a triple to left field that scored Valerie Rodriguez.  Two batters later, Singh scored the Red Hawks' fifth run of the game as Gomez was picked off sleeping at first to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the seventh inning, Corban went into the final stanza with a one-run lead looking to pick up its first win of the season.  Unfortunately, Valerga would open the inning by reaching via an error before pinch runner Noele Spangler would tie the game thanks to a Alexander double to right field.  After an intentional walk, Rovito belted a game-winning, walk-off three-run home run to give the host Red Hawks the three-run victory (9-6) and a double header sweep of the Warriors.

In the night cap, Kollaer led the Warriors' offense with three hits to go along with three other Corban players -- Jones, Franke, and Steigleman -- that collected two hits each.  Freshman Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) started her first collegiate game and went the distance for the Warriors allowing six runs (two earned) on 11 hits to go along with a pair of K's.

With the losses, Corban falls to 0-2 early on while Simpson improves to 2-0.  The same two teams will meet on Saturday, February 7th, in a double header that is scheduled for noon at Simpson Softbal Field in Redding, California.