BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Steady play and timely hitting helped lead Corban's No. 17-ranked softball team to a pair of wins over cross town rival Willamette and British Columbia Saturday at the Northwest Cup being played at Hood View Park.

Corban (6-2) was led offensively by senior Stephanie Nippert, who belted her team-leading second and third home runs of the season that included a game-winning three-run bomb against British Columbia. Nippert was a combined 3-for-8 at the plate with three runs scored and seven runs batted in, while junior Courtney Castronovo was 5-for-7 at the plate that included a perfect 3-for-3 performance against Willamette. Senior Chynna Sandhop also collected four hits on the afternoon, while senior Liane DeHart and junior Lounette Jackson had a hit in each game.

In the circle, senior Amy Greenough went the distance against Willamette allowing three earned runs on five hits with a game-high five strikeout. In the finale against British Columbia, senior Chelsea Schriber got the start allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits before turning the ball over to sophomore Jessica Slate for the final two innings. Slate would allow just two hits en route to earning her second win of the year.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 14, WILLAMETTE 3 (5 INNINGS)

Corban would open play at this year's Northwest Cup against cross town rival and NCAA Division III member Willamette. Playing as the visiting team, the Warriors struck first in their first at-bat when senior Brittany Chestnut drew the first of 11 walks by Corban before moving to second on a single by Sandhop. Two batters later, senior Rachel Conard and Sandhop would execute a perfect double steal with Conard reaching second safely before Sandhop cross home plate for the game's opening run.

In the bottom of the first inning, Willamette would battle back to tie the game at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly to center field by Courtney Galli that brought home Jenna King.

Corban would retake the lead in the top of the second inning when DeHart doubled down the left field line to bring home Castronovo, who lead off the inning with a double to left center making the score 2-1 in favor of the Warriors.

In the top of the third inning, Corban would score another run on a bases loaded walk by sophomore AmyLee Perrine that put the Warriors ahead by the score of 3-1.

Willamette would tie the game in the bottom of the third inning (3-3) thanks to a RBI by Hope Kloczko and a run-scoring ground out off the bat of Yvonne Drabin.

In the top of the fourth inning, Corban would get two more runs on the board when Nippert blasted her second home run of the season over the center field fence that also brought home Sandhop for a 5-3 Warrior lead.

Corban would blast the game wide open in the top of the fifth inning, as the Warriors scored nine runs on six hits that included a pair of two-RBI singles by Nippert and sophomore Kyrianna Sorensen. Nationally-ranked Corban would seal the victory when freshman Danielle Horne scored on a throwing error by Willamette giving the Warriors the 14-3 win.

Willamette (0-2) was led offensively by five different Bearcats – King, Kelli Synder, Ashley Pender, Drabin, and Allison Martin – that all registered a hit. Pitching-wise, Victoria Bradshaw got the start allowing three earned runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work before Hayley Glantz took over allowing 10 earned runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings en route to suffering the loss. Erin Bueser would finish out the game for Willamette, as she allowed one unearned run on two hits before getting the final out.

GAME #2 – CORBAN 7, BRITISH COLUMBIA 6

For the second time in a week, Corban and British Columbia battled in a one-run game with the Warriors coming out on top once again in a hard-fought battle between the two teams.

The Warriors would get on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when Chestnut drew a bases loaded walk that allowed Castronovo to score to give Corban the early 1-0 lead.

British Columbia (4-7) would come back to take the lead in the top of the third inning when Cassandra Dypchey drove in a run on a fielder's choice that tied the game before Alana Westerhop ripped a single up the middle that scored Dypchey to give the T-Birds a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban would retake the lead (4-3) when the Warriors score two runs on a Conard single to center field that plated Chestnut and Sandhop.

British Columbia would answer back with four runs over the next two innings, as the highlight came off the bat of Lindsey McElroy via a two-run double to left center in the top of the fifth inning. After all the dust had settled, UBC held a 6-4 lead heading into Corban's final two at-bats.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban would get runners on first and second thanks to a leadoff walk by DeHart before Chestnut reached base when UBC attempted to get the lead runner but DeHart would beat the play to the bag. One batter later, Nippert would blast her second home run of the day via a three-run blast to center field that put Corban ahead for good (7-6).

Westerhof and McElroy would lead British Columbia's offense with three hits each, while Brittany Meyer, Dycphey, and Molly Gosnell each collected a pair of hits. In the circle for the T-Birds, Nicole Day pitched 5.1 innings allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits before turning the ball over to Westerhop, who allowed three earned runs on two hits en route to suffering the loss.

Corban will continue play at the Northwest Cup tomorrow – Sunday, February 17th – against Simpson and Puget Sound beginning at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively, at Hood View Park in Clackamas.