BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Senior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) pitched a complete game in the opener to go along with freshman Twyla Baggarley's (Hillsboro, Ore.) third home run of the season, but Corban's softball team dropped a pair of games to the NCAA Division III's No. 22-ranked Wildcats of Linfield, 3-2 & 12-4 in 5 innings, Saturday at the Wildcat Softball Field.

In today's opener, both teams were held without a hit until the bottom of the third inning when Linfield collected a pair of hits en route to scoring the game's first run. The host Wildcats' Rochelle Friend registered the game's first hit via a single back to the pitcher before Emilee Lepp brought Friend home with a double to left center to put Linfield up 1-0.

Corban wasted no time in scoring its first run, as sophomore Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) reached via a Wildcat fielding error before two straight Warriors – juniors Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) and Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) – got on base on fielder's choices. The very next batter – senior Karlee Sisler (Corvallis, Ore.) – then brought in the game-tying run with a double to right center that scored Steigleman and knotted the game at 1-all.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Linfield got a lead off double to center field by Emily Keagbine before she advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following a pair of strikeouts, Jordan Mixsell roped a single up the middle that allowed Keagbine to score the Wildcats' go-ahead run to give Linfield a 2-1 lead.

After three scoreless at-bats, Linfield got a much-needed insurance run off the bat of Keagbine via her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Keagbine's blast over the center field fence handed the host Wildcats a two-run advantage (3-1) heading into the game's final at-bat.

In the top of the seventh inning, Corban got a lead-off solo home run from Baggarley that sailed over the right center field fence and brought the visiting Warriors within a single run (3-2). Unfortunately, Linfield induced Corban into a pair of ground outs and a game-ending strikeout en route to preserving the one-run victory.

Offensively, Corban was held to a mere three hits off the bats of Sisler, Baggarley, and junior Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.). In the circle, Sailors went the distance allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits to go along with a team-high seven strikeouts.

Linfield was led by Keagbine's 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and one RBI. Meanwhile, Kendra Strahm pitched a complete game allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits to go along with a game-high nine K's.

In the night cap, Linfield erupted for 12 unanswered runs over the opening three innings that included a second inning grand slam off the bat of Lepp.

Corban came to the plate in the fifth and final inning trailing by double digits before scoring four runs on five hits. Senior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) led off the frame with a single through the right side before Franke walked to advance everyone one base. Kollaer came to the plate and calmly ripped a double to left center that scored Gaylord and advance Franke to third. The very next batter – Steigleman – brought Franke home with a looping single down the right field line that allowed Kollaer to move to third and put Steigleman on second following a throw to third in an attempt to get the lead runner. One batter later, Baggarley registered her second and third RBI of the afternoon with a two-run single down the right field line that scored Kollaer and Steigleman. Trailing by eight runs (12-4), freshman Ashley Strom stepped to the plate and ripped a single to left center allowing Baggarley to advance to third. Unfortunately, Strom got caught in a run down between first and second before Baggarley was thrown out at home attempting to score that ended the game.

Seven different Warriors – Franke, Kollaer, Steigleman, Sisler, Baggarley, Strom, and Pierce – registered hits, while freshman Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) pitched the opening 3.0 innings allowing 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits before giving way to Kollaer for the game's final inning.

Offensively, Linfield was led by four different players that registered two hits each with Lepp collecting a game-high five RBI. In the circle, Brittany Miller pitched the opening 3.0 innings allowing only one Warrior hit to go along with a game-high seven strikeouts before turning the ball over to reliever Samantha Van Noy. The Wildcat right-hander allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits over the game's final 2.0 innings.

With today's results, Corban falls to 10-10 overall versus Linfield's unbeaten record of 12-0. The Warriors return to action on Monday, March 23rd, against the Bruins of George Fox beginning at noon in Newberg.