BOX SCORE

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Sophomore Erica Fitzgerald (Beaverton, Ore.) went 2-for-3 at the plate hitting a grand slam in the first inning to go along with five runs batted in, as Corban's softball team advanced to its second straight CCC Championship Series with a 13-7 win over rival Concordia Friday at OIT's Softball Complex.

Fitzgerald's third home run of the season would jump start a 14-hit effort for the Warriors, as fellow sophomore Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.) went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI. Senior Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.) started in the circle for Corban allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings of work before turning the ball over to junior Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) for 2.2 innings.

Concordia would get on the board in the top of the first inning when Kayla Vickaryous led off with a single to left field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Genskay. After a walk, Cameron Way stepped to the plate and roped a single to center field that brought home Vickaryous and put the Cavaliers up by a single run (1-0).

In the bottom half of the first inning, Corban knotted the game after sophomore Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.) drew a one-out walk before stealing second and coming home on Nippert's single that tied the score at 1-1. One batter later, sophomore Tamara Feb (Oregon City, Ore.) singled bringing home Nippert on a Cavalier error that put the Warriors up by a single run (2-1). After back-to-back walks by junior Emma Winckler (Eltopia, Wash.) and sophomore Courtney Castronovo (Salem, Ore.) that loaded the bases, Fitzgerald deposited a pitch over the left field fence for a five-run Corban lead (6-1) after the first inning.

Concordia would get two runs back in the top of the third inning on a run-scoring hit by Robin Gawlista before Amy Aicher registered a ground out RBI that pulled the Cavaliers within three runs (6-3).

Corban would add another run to its lead in the bottom of the third inning when junior Abbie Pynch (Stayton, Ore.) ripped a two-run single down the left field line with the bases loaded that allowed Winckler and Castronovo to score putting the Warriors up five runs (8-3).

In the top of the fifth inning, Concordia posted another run on the board when Aicher roped a double that brought home Gawlista after she reached via a fielder's choice to bring the Cavaliers within four runs (8-4).

One inning later, Concordia pulled within two runs (8-6) when Ali Paz singled home Vickaryous before Cameron Way lifted a deep sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Genskay to come home with the Cavaliers' six run of the game.

Needing some insurance runs, Corban would explode for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth inning with Feb drawing a bases loaded walk before Winckler and Fitzgerald registered run-scoring singles. Freshman Lounette Jackson (Escalon, Calif.) would cap the Warriors' scoring when she ripped a single that brought home Feb and pushed Corban's lead to seven runs (13-6) heading into the final inning.

Concordia would not allow its season to end so easily, as the Cavaliers put their seventh and final run on the board in the top of the seven inning when Aicher scored on a Warrior miscue that cut the final deficit to six runs (13-7).

Offensively, Concordia was led by five different players – Vickaryous, Genskay, Paz, Way, and Aicher – with two hits each, while Gawlista and Kyndell Andrews registered a hit each for the Cavaliers. Renee Santos went the opening 2.2 innings for Concordia allowing eight earned runs on five hits before leaving the game with an injury allowing Jordyn Brown to pitch the final 3.1 innings.

With the win, Corban sets a new single-season record for victories improving to 25-15 overall. Meanwhile, Concordia's season comes to an end at 22-15 overall. The Warriors will move onto the opening game of a best-of-three series against regular season and tournament-host Oregon Tech beginning later today – Friday, May 6th – at 3:00 p.m. at OIT's Softball Complex.