WEST POINT, Ga. – The (RV) Corban University softball team didn't miss a beat in its 2,200-mile trip to Georgia, as the Warriors completed the doubleheader sweep over Point University on Thursday afternoon in the first-ever series between the two NAIA foes. The Navy and Gold claimed game one in five innings, 10-2, before taking down the Skyhawks in game two, 6-3.
"I have to give the girls a lot of credit for coming out ready to go today after a long day of traveling yesterday," said head coach Nathan Ohta. "It would have been easy to come out sluggish, but they played with a lot of intensity from the very first at-bat and put pressure on our opponents to keep pace."
(RV) Corban 10, Point 2
The Warriors received solid offensive contributions from a variety of players, as freshman first baseman Jaslyn Rush (Stockton, Calif.) led the way with a 2-for-3 effort and two RBI. Two other players notched a pair of RBI for Corban, as sophomore center-fielder Annie Owen (Corvallis, Ore.) went 2-for-4 on the dish while sophomore catcher Danielle Ackerman (Dallas, Ore.) posted a 1-for-4 effort.
Junior hurler Danielle Horne (Vacaville, Calif.) notched her third victory of the 2015 campaign, as she struck out three Skyhawks and only allowed two hits.
Corban got down to business early, as Owen singled to left field in her first at-bat to put Point on its heels. Moments later, second baseman Anne Binschus (Gig Harbor, Wash.) doubled to left field to score Owen and put the Navy and Gold on the scoreboard. Binschus eventually crossed home plate after Rush singled to give Corban a 2-0 lead.
With a 3-1 advantage in the top of the fifth, the Warriors exploded for a six-run inning to put the Skyhawks away. With the bases loaded and only one out, Corban registered three singles in a row, as Rush, senior right-fielder RaeAnne Dorcas (Everett, Wash.), and junior designated hitter McCayla Hoffman (Bothell, Wash.) each recorded an RBI in the offensive burst. Leading by seven (8-1), Ackerman doubled to left center to score both Hoffman and sophomore pinch hitter Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.) to cap the Navy and Gold's scoring in the inning.
Although Point tallied a run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth frame, freshman second baseman Brooke Williams grounded out to retire the side, and with an eight-run lead after five innings, Corban claimed game one of the doubleheader due to the mercy rule.
Following game one, Horne talked with the Sports Information Office about the victory.
(RV) Corban 6, Point 3
Binschus directed Corban's offense with two RBI on the dish, while freshman catcher Chaleigh Kirkwood (Newport, Wash.) recorded a 2-for-2 effort and two RBI. In addition, senior third baseman Kyrianna Sorensen (Salem, Ore.) posted a solid 2-for-4 effort for the Warriors.
Freshman pitcher Sabrina Boyd (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) registered her first-career victory on the mound for the Navy and Gold, as she compiled eight strikeouts in the triumph.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Corban scored a run thanks to a walk with the bases loaded to tie the contest. Kirkwood proceeded to single to right field to bring home Rush and give the Navy and Gold its first lead of the game. The Warriors went on to tally two more runs in the frame due to an infield error by the Skyhawks to take a 4-1 advantage.
In the top of the fourth, sophomore second baseman Anne Binschus (Gig Harbor, Wash.) doubled to center field to score Kirkwood and sophomore shortstop Paige Martin (Portland, Ore.) to extend Corban's lead to four (6-2).
Point threatened to rally in the bottom of the sixth, as the Skyhawks cut the Navy and Gold's lead to three (6-3) and put two runners in scoring position, but Boyd remained composed on the mound, as she forced a ground out and struck out sophomore right-fielder Leslie Hinkle to retire the side.
In the bottom of the seventh, Boyd collected three quick outs to grant Corban its 10th-straight victory.
"Dani and Sabrina both turned in great performances today," commented Ohta. "The fact that they were both able to go the distance on the opening games of a 10-game stretch sets up our pitching rotation nicely for the rest of the week. All in all it was another great day to be a Warrior."
The Navy and Gold (11-1) returns to action tomorrow afternoon, as the Warriors will battle No. 11 Belhaven University (Miss.) in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. at 9 a.m. PST. To follow live stats and audio, click here.
