REDDING, Calif. - The (RV) Corban University softball team kicked off the 2015 campaign in impressive fashion at the opening day of the Simpson Tournament, as the Warriors finished the day with a 2-1 record that included a 4-3 upset victory over No. 10 Simpson University. The full stats are not yet available for all three games.

(RV) Corban University vs. University of British Columbia

The Warriors (2-1) showed off some of their offensive firepower in game one, as they posted a 14-1 victory over the University of British Columbia in a game that ended in five innings due to the mercy rule. Junior hurler Emily Buhrkuhl (Stockton, Calif.), a transfer out of William Jessup University, collected her first victory in a Navy and Gold uniform, as she pitched four innings for Corban.

A trio of Warriors notched home runs in the triumph, as sophomore infielder Annie Binschus (Gig Harbor, Wash.), junior infielder McCayla Hoffman (Bothell, Wash.), and sophomore infielder Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.) each smashed the ball out of the park.

In the win, Buhrkuhl struck out three and gave up two hits in her four innings of work, allowing one earned run. As a team, the Warriors totaled 11 hits and three stolen bases.

(RV) Corban University vs. San Diego Christian

Although the Corban University softball team registered a pair of home runs against unbeaten San Diego Christian College, those would be the Warriors' only two hits of the day, as the team fell short to the Hawks, 5-2, in game two of the Simpson Tournament.

In a matchup against two highly-touted offensive forces, the Warriors struck first, as sophomore center-fielder Annie Owen (Corvallis, Ore.) blasted a ball out of the park in her first at-bat to give Corban a 1-0 lead.

However, following the Owen homer, Corban's bats fell flat, as the Navy and Gold wouldn't notch another hit until the seventh inning. Meanwhile, the Hawks responded with a home run in the top of the second inning to get on the scoreboard.

In the top of the fourth inning, San Diego Christian took its first lead (2-1) of the game, as senior first baseman Josie Tucker singled to bring home senior center-fielder Morgan McGee. The Hawks went on to score three more runs in the inning, as senior designated hitter Jazmine Hamme knocked one out of the park to put San Diego Christian ahead, 5-1.

The Warriors finally notched another hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, as freshman first baseman Jaslyn Rush (Stockton, Calif.) homered to bring Corban within three (5-2). With two outs and a runner on first, the Navy and Gold had one final chance to rally, but sophomore pinch hitter Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.) popped out to sophomore shortstop Ariel Rasmusson to end the contest.

Owen and Rush's homers were Corban's only offense of the afternoon, as the two Warriors finished 2-for-5 in the losing effort. Freshman pitcher Sabrina Boyd (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) lost her first contest of her collegiate debut, as she pitched 3.2 innings and surrendered seven hits and five runs. Junior pitcher Danielle Horn made an appearance as well for the Warriors, as she notched two strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.

(RV) Corban University vs. No. 10 Simpson University

The Warriors ended the day with a thriller, as freshman infielder Jaslyn Rush (Stockton, Calif.) hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to grant Corban the upset over No. 10 Simpson University.

Junior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) threw well for the Warriors in the win, going 5.1 innings while allowing just five hits and striking out six. Buhrkuhl came in late and pitched 1.2 innings, allowing no hits and striking out three en route to earning the win.

Simpson threatened early on in the contest, loading the bases with one out in the first frame, but Holsinger ultimately escaped the inning without much damage. Binschus followed up sophomore catcher Danielle Ackerman's (Dallas, Ore.) single with her second homerun of the day to give Corban a 2-1 lead.

Senior infielder Kyrianna Sorensen (Salem, Ore.) registered an RBI in the third, bringing home Ackerman, but Simpson eventually rallied and tied the game in the fifth frame with a pair of runs.

In the top of the seventh, Rush left her mark on the contest, launching a solo homerun to give Corban the lead, and Buhrkuhl then retired the side in order in the bottom half of the inning to preserve the win.

"I was really pleased with how the team played today," said head coach Nathan Ohta. "They came out ready to go in game one, and responded to a tough loss in game two with a great effort against one of the country's top teams in game three. Our pitchers threw really well, and we played solid defense. I did not expect us to pop seven balls out of the yard today, but the girls had some really good approaches at the plate, made some good adjustments, and definitely have the power to hit the ball out of the yard when they are putting good swings on good pitches. "

The Navy and Gold continues its stride in the Simpson Tournament tomorrow morning, as the Warriors will kick off a full day of softball against Hope International University (Calif.) at 9 a.m.