BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

ASHLAND, Ore. – Sophomore Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) went a combined 4-for-6 with three runs scored to go along with freshman Twyla Baggarley's (Hillsboro, Ore.) fifth victory of the season, as Corban's softball team earned a split with the Raiders of Southern Oregon, 4-8 & 5-4, Saturday afternoon at University Field.

In the opener, Southern Oregon scored six unanswered runs before Corban put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning off three hits. Senior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) registered a two-out infield single before a Jones single to center field moved everyone up one base. The very next batter – sophomore Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) – brought both runners home with a double to center field that pulled the visiting Warriors within four runs (6-2).

Southern Oregon regained its six-run advantage after plating two runs in the bottom half of the inning before Corban began a comeback in its last at-bat. Gaylord began the frame with another infield single before Jones and Kollaer registered singles that loaded the bases with no outs. Junior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) then brought home Corban's third run of the game with a ground out before fellow junior Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) drew a walk to re-load the bases. The visiting Warriors final run came when junior Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.) got on base via an infield single that allowed Jones to score from third. Unfortunately, Corban could not get anymore runs home thanks to a game-ending strikeout by Southern Oregon's pitcher that handed the host Raiders the four-run victory (8-4).

In the night cap, it was a pitcher's dual until the top of the third inning when Kollaer registered a one-out single to center field before Franke walked and Steigleman reached on a fielder's choice. On the fielder's choice, Kollaer scored and Franke advanced to third on a fielder error by the Raiders. During the Warriors' next at-bat, Franke scored on a pass ball and Steigleman scored on an error by the Raiders' catcher to put Corban up by three runs (3-0). The very next batter – Schell – put the visiting Warriors' fourth run on the board with her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence.

Southern Oregon came back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to pull within a single run (4-3) before Corban added a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh. Jones walked and then advanced to second on a pass ball before Franke registered a two-out run-scoring single to left field to put the visiting Warriors up by the score of 5-3.

The host Raiders had one last chance in the bottom half of the inning when a sacrifice fly pulled them within one run (5-4), but Corban's pitching staff shut the door with a pair of ground outs to third to pick up the much-needed one-run victory and the double header split.

Jones registered back-to-back 2-for-3 performances in today's action, while senior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) and Baggarley began in the circle for the Warriors in each game. Sailors went the opening 4.0 innings in Game #1 allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits before turing the ball over to freshman reliever Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.). In the finale, Baggarley went the opening 3.2 innings allowing three earned runs on nine hits before Wagner came in for the final 3.1 innings en route to picking up her team-leading fifth save of the season.

Southern Oregon's Meghan Laughlin turned in a pair of 2-for-4 performances to lead the Raiders, while Jordyn Kurtz toed the pitching rubber at the start of both games for the host team. Kurtz went the distance in the opener allowing four earned runs on 10 hits to go along with a game-high 13 K's. In Game #2, Kurtz went the opening 3.0 innings allowed four unearned runs before turning the ball over to a duo of relievers.

With today's results, Corban moved to 15-11 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Meanwhile, Southern Oregon finds itself at 5-10 overall and 3-1 in conference action. The Warriors return to the diamond on Friday, April 3rd, when they host the Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.