BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – Senior Stephanie Nippert tied the program's single-game record for runs batted in with seven, as Corban's No. 8-ranked softball team stayed alive in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Championships thanks to a 9-7 win over No. 19-ranked Concordia Thursday afternoon on Warrior Field in Salem.

Corban (40-12) would get a perfect 2-for-2 showing from Nippert that included seven RBIs, as the fourth-year Warrior belted a pair of home runs to push her career total to 80 and moved her in front of Central Baptist's Christen Kirchner for the lead on the NAIA's all-time career home run list. Along with Nippert, seven other Warriors – senior Brittany Chestnut, senior Erica Fitzgerald, senior Chynna Sandhop, senior Liane DeHart, junior Courtney Castronovo, junior Lounette Jackson, and sophomore Kyrianna Sorensen – also tallied hits with Chestnut driving in Corban's other two runs.

Senior Amy Greenough would get the start for Corban allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with a pair of strikeouts before turning the ball over to fellow senior Chelsea Schriber, who allowed one unearned run on two hits in 2.0 innings of relief en route to picking up her team-leading 17th win of the season.

On the other hand, Concordia (34-21) had its tournament run come to an end despite a 3-for-3 performance by Taylor Copher to go along with a two-hit, three-RBI showing by Laura Luther that included her ninth home run of the season. Katie Aden, Mary Lugar, and Robin Gawlista would also tally a pair of hits for the Cavaliers in the game.

Ashley Suter went the opening 3.2 innings for Concordia allowing seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with a game-high three strikeouts before turning the ball over to Danielle Orvella for the final 2.1 innings, as she allowed two earned runs on four hits with one K.

Concordia would get the scoring started in the top of the first inning when Luther crushed a three-run home run over the center field fence giving the Cavaliers a three-run lead (3-0) after its first at-bat.

In the top of the second inning, Concordia would add to its lead (4-0) thanks to a single up the middle by Gawlista that scored Lugar.

Corban would answer back with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the second inning, as the Warriors loaded the bases when DeHart drew a two-out walk that set the stage for Nippert. The third pitch that Nippert saw was deposited over the left field fence for her second career grand slam, as a new ballgame was painted thanks to Nippert's game-tying blast that evened the score at 4-4.

Concordia would answer back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a run-scoring hit by Aden along with a dropped fly ball by Corban's right fielder that allow the Cavaliers' sixth run to cross the plate, as CU built a two-run lead (6-4).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban would answer back with three runs on a home run to straight away center field by Nippert after Sorensen singled to leadoff the inning and DeHart drew another walk. After DeHart's second walk of the afternoon, Nippert made Concordia pay on the first pitch that she saw by belting her 80th career home run over the fence to give Corban a one-run lead (7-6).

Concordia would tie the game at 7-7 in the top of the sixth inning when Cassidy Horner singled through the left side allowing Aden to score after she led off the inning by reaching on a Corban error.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban would get a two-run double by Chestnut that sailed over the head of Concordia's left fielder allowing DeHart and Nippert to score as the host Warriors built a two-run lead (9-7) heading into the final inning,

Concordia would not threaten in the top of the seventh inning, as Schriber put the Cavaliers down in order to help Corban preserve its record 40th win of the season.

Corban will return to the diamond tomorrow – Friday, May 3rd – against No. 24-ranked Oregon Tech in an elimination game beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Warrior Field in Salem. The winner of the game will advance to the championship game against The College of Idaho, as the Lady Yotes will need to be beaten twice by either Corban or OIT to avoid elimination.