BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

ASHLAND, Ore. – In two important games following a pair of losses 24 hours ago, Corban's softball team stepped onto University Field Saturday and earned a split with the Raiders of Southern Oregon, 6-8 & 9-7, to remain in the playoff picture thanks to a combined 24 hits in the double header.

With today's split, Corban moves to 16-21 overall and 8-8 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Southern Oregon finds itself at 13-19 overall and 9-9 in league action.

Offensively, freshman Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.) and junior Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) went 5-for-7 each with Nippert scoring four runs and Jones crossing the plate twice. The aforementioned duo also drove in three runs each, while seniors Rachel Kazmierski (Eugene, Ore.) and Jessica Schell (Portland, Ore.) registered three hits each on the afternoon.

Junior Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.) would start in the circle for Corban allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits before turning the ball over to sophomore Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) for the final 9.0 innings on Saturday. Wagner would pitch the final two innings in Game #1 before going the distance in the night cap allowing a combined 11 runs (eight earned) on 17 hits to go along with two strikeouts.

GAME #1 – SOUTHERN OREGON 8, CORBAN 6

In the opener, Nippert would register a two-out double to right field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. The very next batter – freshman Tamara Feb (Oregon City, Ore.) – would bring Nippert home with an infield single that resulted in an early 1-0 Warrior lead.

Southern Oregon would plate two runs in the bottom of the first when Kathryn Moy led off with a single before advancing all the way to third on an error by the Warriors. Justine Fulton would bring home Moy on a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 1-1 before Karri Johnson brought Meghan Laughlin home two batters later to give the host Raiders a one-run lead (2-1) following Johnson's walk.

Corban would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the second on a run-scoring single to center field by senior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) that brought home Kazmierski.

In the top of the fourth, Corban would have three runners cross home plate beginning with a two-run single to left field by Jones that allowed Kazmierski and Schell to score before Jones advanced to second on a Raider error. The next Warrior batter – freshman Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.) – would bring Jones home with an infield field single that made the score 5-2 in favor Corban.

Southern Oregon would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Lauren Keel following a three-run triple by Laughlin that resulted in a one-run Raider lead (6-5).

Corban would tie the game for the fourth and final time in the top of the sixth inning when Franke singled allowing Schell to advance to third. On the same play, Schell would score the Warriors' sixth and final run of the opener on an error by the Raiders on an attempted pick off.

In the bottom of the sixth, Southern Oregon would score the eventual game-winning runs on a two-run double to center field by Fulton that scored pinch-runner Mischa Meyer and Rayna Okimoto for the final score of 8-6.

Jones would lead Corban's offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance that included the 46th stolen base of her career in the fourth inning tying the program's all-time record. Nippert, Schell, and Franke would also register two hits each, while DeHart and Feb added a hit each in the loss.

Southern Oregon would get a 3-for-4 performance from Moy, while Fulton and Laughlin each drove in three runs in the victory. The Raiders would send two pitchers to the circle – Johnson and Keel – with the duo combining to allow six earned runs on 11 hits with Keel registering a game-high two K's.

GAME #2 – CORBAN 9, SOUTHERN OREGON 7

The finale would begin with a Jones' single before she advanced to second on the attempted throw and third on a sacrifice bunt by DeHart. The visiting Warriors would score the opening two runs on Nippert's team-leading eighth home run of the season via a two-run shot for an early 2-0 Corban lead. Feb would step to the plate next and add to the Warriors' lead with her seventh home run in just 18 games this season, as Corban extended its advantage to three runs (3-0).

In the bottom half of the first inning, Southern Oregon would score five runs on six hits that included a solo home run by Fulton, run-scoring singles by Irene Barrantes and Emily Matekel, and a two-run double to center field by Karla Alvarez for a 5-3 Raider lead.

Corban would battle back in the top of the third inning when Kazmierski doubled home Nippert and Feb before scoring on a wild pitch for a 6-5 Warrior lead.

The visiting Warriors would get another run in the top of the fifth inning on a Schell single that scored Nippert followed by a SOU run that made the score 7-6 after five innings of play.

In the top of the sixth, Corban scored its final two runs on a Jones single to right field that scored freshman Erica Fitzgerald (Beaverton, Ore.). Nippert would then register a sacrifice fly two batters later following Jones' record-breaking stolen base immediately after her run-scoring single. With her 47th career stolen base, Jones passed former Warrior Megan Gaylord (2006-09) atop the all-time leader board after just three seasons of play.

Southern Oregon would cut its deficit to two runs (9-7) in the bottom of the sixth inning when Laughlin brought Fulton home with a single to center field. Fortunately for the Warriors, Corban's pitching and defense would shut down the Raiders' bats en route to securing the afternoon split.

Nippert went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in, while Kazmierski added three hits to go along with Jones' 2-for-4 performance with one run scored and one RBI.

Southern Oregon would get two hits from six different Raiders that included a pair of RBI by Barrantes and Alvarez. Three Raider pitchers – Jessica Flores, Johnson, and Keel – combined to allow nine earned runs on 13 hits to go along with a pair of Flores K's.

Corban will return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 23rd, against conference rival Northwest Christian in a double header beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Eugene. The Warriors and Beacons will attempt to make-up last week's twin bill rain out seven days later at Morse Field.