SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University softball team blasted four homeruns in its 2015 home-opener en route to winning both contests against Northwest Christian University on Tuesday. In a pitcher's duel in game one, the Warriors claimed the victory, 4-1, while in the nightcap, the Navy and Gold powered its way to a 12-6 triumph.
Game One: (RV) Corban 4, Northwest Christian 1
Junior designated hitter Jamie Costa (Tracy, Calif.) had quite the day at the dish, as she tallied a pair of home runs and compiled three RBI in game one. Corban saw a pair of hits by sophomore second baseman Anne Binschus (Gig Harbor, Wash.), as she went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
In addition, sophomore center-fielder Annie Owen (Corvallis, Ore.), sophomore catcher Danielle Ackerman (Dallas, Ore.), senior third baseman Kyrianna Sorensen (Salem, Ore.), junior shortstop Kali Van Cleave (Portland, Ore.), and freshman left-fielder Maddy Melton (Salem, Ore.) each recorded a hit for the Navy and Gold.
In the circle, junior hurler Emily Buhrkuhl (Stockton, Calif.) reached double figures on the year for wins, as she registered four strikeouts and allowed just two hits en route to her 10th victory of the 2015 campaign.
The Warriors took the lead early, as Binschus popped an RBI single to center field to score Owen who reached on a single earlier in the frame.
Buhrkurl rode a no-hitter until the fourth frame, as Beacon senior left-fielder Jill Suratt hit an infield single to break the dry spell for Northwest Christian (5-17, 2-4 CCC). Suratt eventually reached home on a Corban throwing error to tie the contest at one apiece.
However, the Navy and Gold made sure the ball game didn't remain tied for long, as Costa smacked her first of two homers to left field to drive home senior pinch runner Shelby Mauermann (Clackamas, Ore.) and grant Corban a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Beacons didn't hear the last of Costa, as she sent the ball far past center field for a solo home run in the bottom half of the sixth frame to extend the Warriors' lead to three runs at 4-1.
With the Beacons fighting for one final gasp, Buhrkurl forced two ground outs and tallied a strikeout to win the ball game for the Navy and Gold.
Game Two: (RV) Corban 12, Northwest Christian 6
The nightcap saw Costa pick up right where she left off, blasting another homerun to put Corban in front early. The Beacons responded with a quartet of runs in the third frame, however, scoring four unearned runs. Kaeli Massetto had the big hit in the inning for the road squad, registering a two-run shot over the left-field fence.
While battling through a rain delay, the Warriors responded in a big way in the third, as Sorensen ripped a three-run long-ball, putting Corban back in front by a run.
Corban then broke the game open in the fourth frame, racking up six more runs to take a 12-5 advantage.
The Beacons would pull one run back in the sixth, but the mountain was too big to climb, resulting in the six-run victory for Corban.
Following the contest, Sorensen and Costa talked about the wins in a post-game interview:
Binschus led the way at the plate for the Warriors with three hits in game two, while Ackerman tallied two. For the Beacons, Massetto went 3-for-3 at the dish.
Warrior junior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) earned the win in the circle for the Warriors, pitching five innings while surrendering five runs, only one of which was earned.
"The ladies competed well today," said head coach Nathan Ohta. "In game one, we were able to win a low-scoring defensive game by pitching well, making big plays and coming up with big hits when we needed them, while in game two, we were able to win while facing adverse weather and rain delays in a high-scoring affair. I told the girls that good teams will find ways to win regardless of the conditions, and it was great to see them adjust to what they faced today and come up with a couple of big conference wins. All in all it was a great effort and we are excited to get ready for this weekend."
Corban (21-5, 5-1 CCC) now prepares for a big weekend with (RV) Southern Oregon University and No. 13 Oregon Tech in town on Friday and Saturday. See the Warrior schedule for full details.
