BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SALEM, Ore. – In a battle of two of the NAIA's Top 20 teams, Corban's No. 17-ranked softball team swept No. 8-ranked Oregon Tech, 6-5 in nine innings & 2-1, Friday on Warrior Field behind a three-hit, three-RBI performance from senior Erica Fitzgerald.

Corban (21-5, 11-1 CCC), who extended their conference-high winning streak to eight games, got three hits from Fitzgerald in the first game that included the game-winning single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning, while four other Warriors – senior Chynna Sandhop, senior Rachel Conard, junior Courtney Castronovo, and junior Lounette Jackson – had multiple hit afternoons. Along with Fitzgerald's offensive output, Conard tallied a pair of runs batted in to go along with one-RBI performances by Castronovo and sophomore Kyrianna Sorensen.

In the circle, senior Amy Greenough went the opening 4.0 innings for the Warriors allowing four earned runs on four hits before turning the ball over to sophomore Jessica Slate for the final 5.0 innings where she allowed just one earned run on three hits en route to picking up her fifth victory of the season. In the finale, senior Chelsea Schriber pitched the opening 6.0 innings allowing one unearned run on four hits with a game-high five strikeouts before Slate got the final three outs en route to earning her second save of the season.

Oregon Tech (23-8, 7-3 CCC) was led offensively by a trio of Owls – Shawna Collins, Sara Coates, and Melissa Logan – with three combined hits each, while Logan drove in a pair of RBIs that included her fifth home run of the season in Game #1.

Taylor Schmidt got the start for the Owls in the opener allowing six earned runs on eight hits in a complete game performance, while Rylee Carleton went the distance in the finale allowing two earned runs on five hits.

GAME #1 — CORBAN 6, OREGON TECH 5 (9 INNINGS)

In Friday's opener, Oregon Tech would get on the board early scoring four runs in the top of the second inning thanks to a single by Schmidt through the right side that allowed Alyssa Davis to score after she drew a walk to leadoff the inning. Logan would step to the plate next and ripped a run-scoring double down the right field line that brought home Coates making the score 2-0 in favor of the visiting Owls. One batter later, Danielle Sayres roped a RBI single down the left field line that scored Schmidt before Logan came home one batter later on a delayed steal home that put Oregon Tech ahead by four runs (4-0).

Corban would answer back with two runs in the bottom of the second inning, as Fitzgerald led off with a single through the right side before Castronovo ripped a RBI triple to right field that scored Fitzgerald and put the Warriors on the board. Two batters later, senior Liane DeHart would bring Castronovo home with an infield single that pulled Corban within two runs (4-2).

In the bottom of the third inning, Corban would score two more runs to tie the game at 4-4 when Fitzgerald ripped a bases loaded single into center field that scored Sandhop after she led off the at-bat with an infield single. One batter later, Sorensen lifted a fly ball into left field that brought home Conard for the game-tying run.

Over the next two innings, both pitchers would be locked in a dual until the top of the sixth inning when Logan crushed a ball over the left field fence for the afternoon's only home run to put Oregon Tech ahead by a single run (5-4).

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Corban would get a one-out infield single by Sandhop by senior Stephanie Nippert was walked for the fourth time in the game putting runners at first and second with one out. Conard would step to the plate and ripped a run-scoring single to right field that plated Sandhop and tied the game at 5-5 and sent the game into extra innings.

Neither team would muster a lot of offense until the top of the ninth inning when Oregon Tech got a leadoff single by Logan before she was lifted for pinch-runner LeAnn Valenta. Kayla Prock would then ground out to the pitcher allowing Valenta to move to second base with just one out. The host Warriors would fortunately get back-to-back defensive plays by their second baseman to keep the game deadlocked at five runs each.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Nippert would draw a one-out walk before moving to second on a groundout. With the potential game-winning run on second base, Fitzgerald stepped to the plate and ripped a single to center field as Nippert crossed home plate just before the Owls could get the throw home ending the game with a one-run victory (6-5) for Corban.

Fitzgerald led the Warriors' offense with a 3-for-4 performance that included one run scored and two RBI, while Sandhop added two hits for Corban. Nippert tied the NAIA's single-game record by drawing five walks in five at-bats, as the reigning NAIA and CCC Player of the Week did not see a single strike in the game.

Oregon Tech would get a perfect 3-for-3 showing from Logan that included two runs scored and two RBI, while four other Owls tallied a hit each in the heart-breaking loss.

GAME #2 — CORBAN 2, OREGON TECH 1

In today's finale, Corban would get on the board quickly scoring a single run in the bottom of the first inning when Fitzgerald lifted a sacrifice fly into right field that allowed senior Brittany Chestnut to score and put the Warriors ahead by the score of 1-0 after she drew one of Corban's four walks in the inning to lead off the at-bat.

Three innings later, Corban would get an much-needed insurance run when Conard drew a bases loaded walk that allowed Jackson to score giving the host Warriors a two-run lead (2-0).

In the top of the sixth inning, Oregon Tech's Collins would battle through a 10-plus pitch at-bat before putting a ball off the top of the fence for a lead off double to right field. After moving to third on a pass ball, Collins came home on an attempted throw to third by Corban's catcher that sailed into left field and plated the Owls' only run of the game making the score 2-1 in favor of the home team.

Corban's pitching and defense would step up the pressure getting the final six outs without a OIT player getting past first base en route to picking up the much-needed win (2-1), as the Warriors extended their winning streak to eight straight games.

Jackson was the offensive hero in Game #2 with a pair of hits, while Chestnut, Conard, and Castronovo each tallied hits for the Warriors.

Collins and Coates collected two hits each for Oregon Tech, while Davis was the only other Owl to register a hit in the finale.

Corban will return to the diamond tomorrow – Saturday, March 23rd – against nationally-ranked Southern Oregon in a late-morning double header beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.