BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

DELTA, B.C. – The NAIA's No. 10-ranked Corban softball team split its first of back-to-back double headers against the Thunderbirds of British Columbia winning the opener, 8-0, before dropping the finale, 10-2 in five innings, Thursday at North Delta Park.

With today's results, Corban extended its winning streak to 13 straight games before UBC snapped the streak handing the Warriors their first mercy-rule loss of the season.

Corban (26-6) was led offensively by senior Stephanie Nippert and junior Courtney Castronovo with two hits each, while senior Rachel Conard and sophomore Shelby Mauermann belted two-run home runs each in Game #1.

In the circle, sophomore Jessica Slate and freshman Danielle Horne combined to allow just five British Columbia hits en route to Slate earning her sixth win of the season. Senior Chelsea Schriber would start Game #2 allowing six earned runs on four hits, as the right-hander faced only seven batters and did not get out of the first inning for the first time during her career as a Warrior. The relief duo of Horne and fellow freshman Samantha Gutwig would take over in the circle combining to allow four earned runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings of work.

Cassandra Dypchey led British Columbia's offense with a combined three hits, while also driving in a team-high three runs for the T-Birds. Leigh Della Siega went the opening 5.0 innings in the opener allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits with a game-high seven strikeouts before Jamie Randall pitched 2.0 innings in relief allowing three earned runs on one hit. In the finale, Nicole Day went the distance allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with a game-high five K's.

GAME #1 — CORBAN 8, BRITISH COLUMBIA 0

Thursday's opener would begin as a pitcher's dual between Slate and Siega before Corban erupted for four runs in the top of the third inning, as Nippert drove in a pair of runs on a double that allowed seniors Brittany Chestnut and Chynna Sandhop to score after the duo reached base on a fielder's choice and UBC error. Conard would step to the plate next for the Warriors and brought Nippert home with her seventh home run of the season, as Corban built a four-run lead (4-0).

In the top of the fifth inning, Nippert would draw a leadoff walk before stealing second, advancing to third on a pass ball, and coming home on a throwing error by the Thunderbirds' catcher giving the visiting Warriors a 5-0 lead.

One inning later, Corban would increase its lead to seven runs (7-0) when Mauermann belted her first career home run via a two-run shot that also scored junior Lounette Jackson after she drew a leadoff walk.

In the top of the seventh inning, Corban would close out the scoring by pushing the final margin to eight runs (8-0) when Mauermann registered her third RBI of the game by drawing a bases loaded walk that scored Conard after she was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning.

Four different Warriors – Nippert, Conard, Castronovo, and Mauermann – all registered hits, while Mauermann drove in a career-high three runs.

Tayla Westgard led British Columbia's offense with a 2-for-3 performance, while three other T-Birds – Carlyn Shimizu, Dypchey, and Molly Gosnell – all recorded hits for UBC.

GAME #2 — BRITISH COLUMBIA 10, CORBAN 2 (5 INNINGS)

The finale would see Corban score a pair of runs in the top of the first inning thanks to Nippert's run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by Conard that handed the visiting Warriors a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, British Columbia would score six runs taking advantage of five hit batters with the final three coming with the bases loaded as UBC took a four-run lead (6-2).

British Columbia would add four more runs in the bottom of the third inning when Dypchey, Alana Westerhof, and Lindsay McElroy registered run-scoring hits followed by Gosnell's ground out that scored the game's final run handing the host Thunderbirds a game-ending eight-run lead (10-2).

Nippert, Castronovo, Jackson, and sophomore Kyrianna Sorensen registered hits for Corban, while the heart of the Warriors' line-up drove in both of the visitor's runs.

Five different UBC players – Shimizu, Dypchey, Westerhof, McElroy, and Gosnell – tallied two hits each, while Dyphey drove in a game-high tying three runs.

Both teams will close out the season series with a double header tomorrow – Friday, March 29th – beginning at 11:00 a.m. at North Delta Park in Delta, British Columbia.