BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – In the home opener for the NAIA's No. 23-ranked Corban softball team, junior Amy Greenough allowed only one hit in four innings of work to go along with a game-high six strikeouts and three Warriors hits home runs in a five-inning 8-0 victory over cross town rival Willamette Thursday at Warrior Field.

With the win, Corban pushes its season-high winning streak to seven games improving to 11-2 overall. Meanwhile, Willamette falls to 1-4 on its young season.

Juniors Brittany Chestnut and Erica Fitzgerald led the Warriors' offensive attack with two hits each, while junior Stephanie Nippert belted her team-leading 10th home run of the season to go along with a two-run blast by fellow junior Rachel Conard later in the game. Both Conard and Fitzgerald drove in two runs each, while Nippert registered a game-high three RBI to go along with a pinch-hit RBI by junior Chynna Sandhop.

Greenough went the opening four innings in the circle for Corban allowing zero runs on one hits with six K, while freshman Jessica Slate got the final three outs in relief.

Corban would begin the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Sandhop recorded an infield single and then stole second on the first pitch. Junior Liane DeHart would then move Sandhop to third on a bunt single before Nippert sent a high pop fly down the left field line that just cleared the fence for a three-run home run giving the host Warriors a three-run lead (3-0) after one inning of play.

That was all the run support that Greenough needed, as she struck out all three Bearcats in the top of the second inning before fanning the next to Willamette hitters in the top of the third. After five straight batters went down either swinging or looking at a third strike, Willamette's Nichole Robertson broke up Greenough's perfect game with a seeing-eye single up the middle for the Bearcats' lone highlight of the afternoon.

In the bottom of the third inning, Corban added two more runs to its lead when Fitzgerald singled home sophomore Lounette Jackson from second following her leadoff walk for the four-run (4-0) Warrior lead. Two batters later, Sandhop came into the game in a reserve role and ripped a single up the middle to bring home Fitzgerald from second for a 5-0 Corban lead after three innings.

The host Warriors would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Conard crushed a 3-2 offering over the right field fence that also scored Jackson, who was on base after a fielder's choice play by Willamette, to make push Corban's lead to seven runs (7-0). The very next batter – Fitzgerald – put the game out-of-reach with her second home run of the season that bounced off the scoreboard in left-centerfield putting the eight-run mercy rule after five innings into effect.

In the top of the fifth inning, Slate came on in relief of Greenough and quickly got three Bearcat outs with only one ball leaving the infield en route to Corban picking up its 11th victory of the season and second straight against Willamette.

Robertson was the lone highlight for Willamette via her third inning single, while Hayley Glantz went the opening 3.0 innings for the Bearcats allowing five earned runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. Alex Watilo would pitch the final inning in relief allowing three earned runs on three hits with one K.

These same two teams will meet again on Wednesday, February 29th, at Willamette's Softball Field for a single game beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Salem.