BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

SALEM, Ore. – Corban's softball team pushed its conference-leading winning streak to six games with a sweep of the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 8-5 & 7-2, Saturday at Warrior Field.

With today's sweep, Corban improves to 25-9 overall and 10-6 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The Warriors also tied the single-season record for wins equaling last year's win total, as Corban has won over 73% of its games this season. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech had its season-high 13-game winning streak snapped falling to 30-6 overall and 13-3 in league games.

Seniors Abbie Pynch and Emma Winckler along with junior Chynna Sandhop each collected three hits on the afternoon, while junior Rachel Conard was 2-for-5 with a run scored and five runs batted in. For the second straight day, Corban relied on the long ball with a combined four home runs in the two games that included a pair of grand slams off the bat of Conard and Pynch. Four other Warriors – Conard, junior Stephanie Nippert, junior Brittany Chestnut, and sophomore Courtney Castronovo – each registered two hits, while junior Erica Fitzgerald and sophomore Lounette Jackson both had a hit in the two victories.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 8, OREGON TECH 5

In the opener, Oregon Tech got on the board quickly thanks to a three-run home run off the bat of Taylor Schmidt in the top of the first inning that brought home Ashleigh Larson and Kayde Schaefer, who reached base via a hit by pitch and a walk. After their opening at-bat, the visiting Owls held a three-run lead (3-0).

Corban would get one run back in the bottom of the first inning when Conard lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Sandhop to score from third after she reached base on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a single by Nippert, and advancing to third on a throwing error by OIT's shortstop. The speedy Sandhop would come home when Conard lifted the second pitch that she saw deep enough for the Warriors' first run cutting the deficit to two runs (3-1).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Nippert would pull Corban within a single run (3-2) with her conference and team-leading 16th home run of the season on the third pitch of the inning. Nippert would deposit the ball over the center field fence for her 46th career home run, as she pulled within five home runs of tying the all-time CCC career record held by Oregon Tech's Amanda Doherty.

Oregon Tech would answer back in the top of the fifth inning when Shauna Collins dropped a two-run home run just beyond the left center field fence that put the visiting Owls back up by three runs (5-2).

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Corban would mount a comeback when Pynch reached base on a fielder's choice before Chestnut was given a gift thanks to a dropped fly ball by OIT's left fielder that kept the inning alive. After an intentional walk to Nippert, Conard blasted the second pitch that she saw over the right field fence for her fourth home run of the season that put the home team up by one run (6-5).

Corban would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Fitzgerald ripped a one-out single to right field before being lifted for junior pinch-runner Liane DeHart. The Warriors' very next batter – Castronovo – lined a RBI double to center field that rolled to the fence allowing Dehart to score all the way from first for a two-run lead (7-5). After an OIT pitching change, Pynch ripped a single up the middle that brought home Castronovo for the final margin of 8-5.

Nippert was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate for Corban, while junior Amy Greenough went the distance to pick up her team-leading 11th victory of the season allowing five earned runs on three hits with a game-high five strikeouts.

Oregon Tech was led offensively by three different players – Collins, Schaefer, and Schmidt – with a hit each, while Schmidt suffered the loss in the circle allowing eight runs (three earned) on seven hits before Melissa Logan got the Warriors' final out.

GAME #2 – CORBAN 7, OREGON TECH 2

In the finale, Corban would put five unanswered runs on the board over the opening three innings with the Warriors' opening run coming via a bloop single to center field by Sandhop in the second inning before Pynch crushed her third home run of the season via a grand slam in the third inning for a quick 5-0 lead for the home team.

Oregon Tech would put its only two runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Logan belted her third home run of the season over the left field fence that pulled the visiting Hustlin' Owls within three runs (5-2).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban would get the two runs back when Winckler crushed an 0-1 pitch over the left center field fence for her 10th home run of the season that also scored pinch-runner DeHart for a 7-2 Warrior advantage.

Over the final three innings, Oregon Tech would only muster a combined three hits with no Owl runner advancing past second base.

Sandhop would provide a perfect 3-for-3 performance for Corban, while junior Chelsea Schriber picked up her eighth win of the season allowing two earned runs on nine hits over the opening 6.0 innings with a game-high tying two strikeouts. Greenough would get the final three outs for the host Warriors, as she struck out two-of-three Owl hitters.

Oregon Tech got a 3-for-4 showing from Larson, while Logan suffered the loss allowing five earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work before Schmidt and Amber Knight combined to allow two earned runs on a combined six hits over the final 3.2 innings.

Corban will return to action on Wednesday, April 18th, in a make-up double header against CCC rival Northwest Christian beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.