BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

NEWBERG, Ore. – Despite an amazing extra inning pitching performance by junior Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.) in the opener and freshman Erica Fitzgerald's (Beaverton, Ore.) third home run of the season in the finale, Corban's softball team dropped a pair of heart-breaking one-run games to NCAA Division III member George Fox, 2-1 in 11 innings & 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Morse Field.

With today's two results, Corban finds itself at 4-7 overall and George Fox opens its 2010 season at 2-0.

Over the afternoon double header, sophomore Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) led the Warriors' bat-attack with a combined 3-for-6 performance to go along with one run batted in in the opener. Fitzgerald would drive home Corban's lone run in the night cap via a lead off home run over the left center field fence.

GAME #1 – GEORGE FOX 2, CORBAN 1 (11 INNINGS)

In the opener, George Fox got a run on the board in the bottom of the third inning after Serena Lee was hit by a pitch with two outs and then stole back-to-back bases. Nicole Renteria then brought Lee home with a double to right field for the game's first run.

Trailing by only one run in the top of the fifth inning, Wagner led off with a single to left field before advancing to second on a walk by senior Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.). One batter later, senior Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.) brought Wagner home via a single to center field that tied the game at 1-1.

Neither team would score again until the bottom of the 11th inning when George Fox got a one out single to left field from Shelby Briske. Following a Bruin strikeout, Briske stole second and then came home on Shelby Klein's game-winning single through the left side for GFU's hard-fought 2-1 extra inning victory.

Freshman Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.) led Corban's offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Wagner was 2-for-3 as the Warriors' designated player. In the circle, Marchbanks went the distance allowing two earned runs on five hits to go along with a game and season-high 11 strikeouts.

George Fox got one hit each from five different players that included run-scoring base knocks from Renteria and Klein. The Bruins' Taylor Whitmore pitched all 11.0 innings allowing one earned run on eight hits to go along with nine K's.

GAME #2 – GEORGE FOX 2, CORBAN 1

In the finale, George Fox got on the board first in its opening at-bat thanks to a sacrifice fly by Bethany Criss following an opening hit-by-pitch by Lee and another pair of stolen bases.

Corban would rebound in its next at-bat, as Fitzgerald led off the inning with her third collegiate home run that tied the game at 1-all.

The visiting Warriors had a chance to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Pierce led off with a single through the left side and then advanced to third on a Bruin fielding error during senior Rebecca Franke's (Pendleton, Ore.) at-bat. Corban's next batter – freshman Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.) – hit a sharp ground to George Fox's shortstop, who promptly threw home to get Pierce and stop any chance that the Warriors had of a double header split.

Following the heroics in the top half of the inning, George Fox came to bat and got a lead off bunt single by Renteria before a Briske double to center field brought home the game-winning run that would lead to the Bruins' afternoon sweep.

Corban would get hits from five different players – Fitzgerald, freshman Nicole Sikes (San Diego, Calif.), Wagner, Schell, and Pierce – to go along with Wagner's complete game performance. The second-year Warrior allowed two earned runs on five hits to go along with a game-high two strikeouts.

George Fox got a perfect 3-for-3 performance from Briske to go along with a pair of one-hit showings from Renteria and Becka Doyle. In the circle, Erin Lee went the distance for the Bruins allowing one earned run on five hits to go along with one K.

Corban will return to the diamond for an afternoon double header on Saturday, February 27th, against NCAA Division III member Linfield beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Wildcats' softball diamond in McMinnville.