BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Freshman Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.) went a combined 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles Saturday, as Corban's softball team fell to NCAA Division III member Linfield, 2-0 & 4-0, under the lights at the Linfield Softball Diamond.

With today's results, Corban falls to 4-9 overall and Linfield opens its 2010 campaign at 2-0.

DeHart collected two of the Warriors' four hits in the opener before going 1-for-4 in the night cap. Meanwhile, senior Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.) registered a combined three hits in the double header that included two in Game #2.

GAME #1 – LINFIELD 2, CORBAN 0

The opening game was a pitching dual, as both pitchers combined to allow two unearned runs and seven hits. Junior Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.) went the distance for the Warriors allowing two unearned runs on three hits to go along with a game-high tying three strikeouts.

Linfield got both runs across the plate in the first inning when Emily Keagbine and Alex Hartmann scored on a error by Corban's centerfielder that allowed the only two runs of the game to score.

Corban had a chance to get a run home in the top of the fifth inning when senior Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.) reached via a single to left center before advancing to third on a DeHart double to left center with two outs. Unfortunately, the Warriors' bats could not get the run across the plate.

In its next at-bat, Corban had another chance to score when freshman Nicole Sikes (San Diego, Calif.) and sophomore Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) each drew walks before Schell advanced everyone with a single through the left side that loaded the bases with two outs. Once again, Corban's bats could not come through in the clutch as a line out to third ended the scoring threat.

Linfield had three players – Hartmann, Rochelle Friend, and Sami Keim – that recorded a hit each, while Lauren Harvey went the opening 5.0 innings for the Wildcats allowing no runs on three hits to go along with a game-high tying three strikeouts. Samantha Van Noy would pitch the final two innings for Linfield, as she allowed a mere hit during her time in the circle.

GAME #2 – LINFIELD 4, CORBAN 0

In the second game, both team's bats came alive as the two squads combined for 14 hits that included two-hit performances by freshman Erica Fitzgerald (Beaverton, Ore.), freshman Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.), and Schell.

After two scoreless innings, Linfield got on the board in the bottom of the third when Jordan Mixsell scored on a Warrior error before Friend came home during Keagbine's run down between first and second.

In the fourth and fifth innings, Linfield brought home two more runs when Staci Doucette registered a run-scoring single up the middle that scored Hartmann in the fourth before Keagbine drove in the game's final run in the fifth with a RBI double to left center that scored Jaydee Baxter.

Corban had runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh inning, as Nippert reached second in the sixth following a lead off single and a walk before senior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) was 120 feet from scoring in the seventh after registering a single with two outs and advanced on Fitzgerald's second hit in the finale. Unfortunately, both threats were halted as Linfield's defense and pitching came up big and held Corban without a run on the afternoon.

Marchbanks went the opening 4.0 innings for Corban allowing three earned runs on three hits to go along with two strikeouts before turning the ball over to Wagner for the final 2.0 innings.

Linfield was led by six different players with one hits each, while Claire Velaski went the opening 5.0 innings allowing a mere five hits to go along with a game-high five strikeouts. Brittany Woods pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Wildcats, as she allowed only three Warrior hits.

Corban will return to the field on Wednesday, March 3rd, in its final road double header to start the season against NCAA Division III member Pacific University of Oregon beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Forest Grove.