BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SALEM, Ore. – Senior Stephanie Nippert had a career day with five hits, six runs scored, six runs batted in, and three home runs, as the NAIA's No. 17-ranked Corban softball team earned a sweep over Eastern Oregon, 11-2 & 15-3, Saturday at Warrior Field.

Corban (17-5, 7-1 CCC) also got multiple hit afternoons from senior Brittany Chestnut, senior Chynna Sandhop, senior Erica Fitzgerald, junior Courtney Castronovo, sophomore Kyrianna Sorensen, and senior Liane DeHart. As a team, the nationally-ranked Warriors registered a combined 25 hits that included four doubles and four home runs.

In the circle, senior Amy Greenough went the opening 4.0 innings in Game #1 allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits before freshman Samantha Gutwig got the final three outs. Senior Chelsea Schriber would pitch the opening 4.0 innings in the finale allowing three earned runs on seven hits before sophomore Jessica Slate got the final three outs of the afternoon despite allowing a pair of hits by the visiting Mountaineers.

Eastern Oregon (8-12, 1-7 CCC) was led offensively by Alex Hillmick with a combined 3-for-4 showing that included two runs scored, while the Mountaineers used four pitchers over the 10 innings played. In Game #1, Tailor Snow got the start allowing 10 runs (six earned) on eight hits in 1.2 innings of work before Kayla Anderson pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing one earned run on three hits. Anderson would take the ball to start the finale allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings of work before the relief duo of Sidney Shaw and Hillmick combined to allow eight earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work.

GAME #1 — CORBAN 11, EASTERN OREGON 2 (5 INNINGS)

In Saturday's opener, Corban three runs in bottom of the first inning thanks to a bases loaded walk by Fitzgerald before Sorensen ripped a RBI single to right field that allowed Nippert to score before Conard scored on an error by Eastern Oregon that made the score 3-0 in favor of the home team after the first inning.

Eastern Oregon would answer back with an single run in the top of the second inning to pull the Mountaineers within two runs (3-1) when Hillmick scored on a throwing error by Corban following her lead off single to center field two batters earlier.

In the bottom of the second inning, Corban would put the game out of reach thanks to an eight-run frame on eight hits that was highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Sandhop and Nippert in the Warriors' first three batters. Three batters later, junior Lounette Jackson would rip a bases loaded RBI single into right field that scored Fitzgerald before Castronovo came around on another error by Eastern Oregon. Following a pitching change by Eastern Oregon, DeHart would registered a run-scoring infield single before Chestnut ripped a two-run single to left field that made the score 11-1 in favor of the host Warriors.

Eastern Oregon would get within nine runs (11-2) in the top of the fourth inning when Georgianna Kelly drove home Hillmick on a ground out to second base, but that would be as much offense as the Mountaineers would muster in the loss.

Chesnut, Nippert, and DeHart would each register two hits, while Chestnut and Sandhop drove in two runs each.

Eastern Oregon would get a perfect 2-for-2 performance from Hillmick that included scoring a pair of runs, while Kelly drove in the Mountaineers' only RBI of the opening game.

GAME #2 — CORBAN 15, EASTERN OREGON 3 (5 INNINGS)

In the finale, Eastern Oregon would strike early thanks to a pair of solo home runs by Mariebeth Watanabe and Sarah Jackson in the top of the first inning en route to the Mountaineers earning a 2-0 lead.

Corban wasted little time in getting back into the game, as the host Warriors scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 2-2 when Fitzgerald ripped a run-scoring single into right field that scored Sandhop before Nippert came home on a designed double steal that saw Fitzgerald get into a pickle that allowed Nippert to cross the plate before the third out was recorded.

In the bottom of the second inning, Corban would put five runs on the board thanks to a RBI single through the left side by Sorensen that scored Castronovo before Dehart registered her second RBI of the afternoon via a run-scoring single through the right side. Two batters later, Nippert would blast her 11th home run of the season via a three-run round-tripper over the center field fence that put the Warriors ahead by five runs (7-2).

Eastern Oregon would score its third and final run in the top of the fourth inning when Kelly singled through the right side allowing Katie Martell to score following her lead off infield single, as the Mountaineers pulled within four runs (7-3).

Unfortunately for Eastern Oregon, Corban would not allow EOU to get any closer as the host Warriors exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by Nippert's second home run of the game via a two-run bomb over the right center field fence. In the high-scoring at-bat, Nippert would begin the scoring coming home on a wild pitch followed by a two-run double to right center by Sorensen and a run-scoring single by Chestnut two batters later. Sandhop would follow up Chestnut's base hit with a two-run single to center field before Nippert's four-bagger concluded the scoring to put the Warriors ahead by 12 runs (15-3).

Despite Eastern Oregon getting a runner to second base in the top of the fifth inning, Slate and Corban's defense would close out the game en route to earning the much-needed weekend sweep.

Nippert was a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs scored and five RBI, while Chestnut, Sandhop, and Sorensen each tallied two hits in the win.

Eastern Oregon was led offensively by Jackson and Stephanie Maestretti with two hits each, while Watanabe, Jackson, and Kelly drove in the Mountaineers' three runs.

Corban will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 19th, against CCC rival Northwest Christian in an afternoon double header beginning at 2:00 p.m. at James Park in Eugene.