SALEM, Ore. – An early start time didn't seem to faze the No. 24 Corban University softball team, as the Navy and Gold used a total-team effort to push past Eastern Oregon in a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) doubleheader sweep on Friday morning. The Warriors held on for an 8-6 victory in game one, before taking down the Mountaineers in six innings in game two, 11-3.
No. 24 Corban 8, Eastern Oregon 6 – Game One
Corban utilized six runs in the later innings and some gutsy pitching in the final frame to pull off an 8-6 triumph over Eastern Oregon in game one.
Junior designed hitter Jamie Costa (Tracy, Calif.) led Corban with a 2-for-2, two RBI effort, while sophomore second baseman Anne Binschus (Gig Harbor, Wash.) went 2-for-3 at the dish with a pair of RBI, including a home run in the sixth inning.
In the circle, junior pitcher Emily Buhrkuhl (Stockton, Calif.) improved to 13-4 on the season, as she collected six strikeouts in six innings pitched. Meanwhile, sophomore hurler Danielle Horne (Vacaville, Calif.) recorded her first save of the season, striking out one batter and allowing just two hits amidst a bases-loaded, seventh-inning jam.
Eastern Oregon was led by junior first baseman Marisa Gonzalez, as she recorded three RBI thanks to a homer in the third inning. In addition, both freshman third baseman Samantha Scott and junior second baseman Gracie Flyg added two hits apiece. Senior hurler Lindsey Walchli got tacked with the loss, as she finished with six strikeouts and seven earned runs in the losing effort.
After a hitless first inning, the Warriors tallied two runs in the second frame to take an early lead. With two runners on, Costa ripped an RBI single to right field to bring home senior right-fielder RaeAnna Dorcas (Everett, Wash.). Moments later, sophomore first baseman Kylie Durre (Bend, Ore.) scored on a Mountaineer throwing error, as senior catcher Cassie Wendt tried to throw out junior pinch runner McCayla Hoffman (Bothell, Wash.), but no one was there at second base.
Eastern Oregon fired right back in the top of the third frame after Gonzalez belted a three-run homer to center field to give the Mountaineers a 3-2 lead. The Navy and Gold went on to load the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but Corban failed to take advantage and couldn't score any runs.
In the fifth, Corban tied the game at three apiece after Dorcas drew a bases loaded walk. Durre followed with a sacrifice fly to drive home senior pinch runner Shelby Mauermann (Clackamas, Ore.) to regain the advantage (4-3), and then Costa mustered her second RBI of the morning to drive home senior third baseman Kyrianna Sorensen (Salem, Ore.) to give Corban a two-run (5-3) lead.
After Buhurkuhl held the Mountaineers to just one hit in the top of the sixth, the Warriors registered three more runs in the bottom of the frame to extend their lead. Sophomore left-fielder Taylor Eilders (Cameron Park, Calif.) opened with a leadoff double to deep right center, and then sophomore center-fielder Annie Owen (Corvallis, Ore.) popped a sacrifice bunt to send Eilders to third. After Corban scored on an Eastern Oregon throwing error, Binschus launched a two-run homer to push the Navy and Gold ahead by five (8-3).
With the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh for Eastern Oregon, Horne replaced Buhrkuhl in the circle. Although the Mountaineers tacked three runs, Horne kept her composure and managed to retire the side and lock up the 8-6 win for the Navy and Gold.
No. 24 Corban 11, Eastern Oregon 3 (Six Innings) – Game Two
Game two nearly mirrored Corban's two lopsided victories over Eastern Oregon earlier this season, as the Warriors took care of the Mountaineers in six innings due to the mercy run rule, 11-3. It was Costa's walk-off grand slam that got the job done, as she smashed one to center field for the Warriors' fifth six-inning triumph of the 2015 campaign.
Costa finished game two with a 2-for-2, four RBI mark at the dish, while Binschus went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a home run in the fourth frame. Eilders also dialed in a three-run homer of her own, while Owen finished 2-for-4 in the contest.
Junior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) collected her eighth victory in the circle, as she compiled a season-high 11 strikeouts.
For Eastern Oregon, both Gonzalez and junior shortstop Haley Hess notched two hits to lead the way for the Mountaineers. In the circle, junior righty Lily Smith fell to 2-2 on the season after yielding five earned runs and collecting a pair of strikeouts in three innings of action.
The Warriors logged their first runs of the ball game in the bottom of the third after Eilders belted a three-run homer to right field to give Corban a 3-0 advantage.
After Holsinger kept the Mountaineers to only one hit in the top of the fourth, the Navy and Gold piled on a quartet of runs in the bottom of the inning to break away. Junior shortstop Kali Van Cleave (Portland, Ore.) opened with a leadoff single, and then freshman right-fielder Maddy Melton (Salem, Ore.) followed with a hit to center to put runners on the corners. Next, Owen singled to score Van Cleave, and then Binschus smacked a three-run bomb for her second homer of the day to give Corban a 7-0 lead.
Eastern Oregon (12-21, 3-13 CCC) eventually drew blood in the fifth frame, as the Mountaineers compiled four singles and a double en route to a three-run inning to pull to within four (7-3).
However, in the sixth, Costa stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, and the California native delivered a walk-off grand slam to grant Corban the 11-3, six-inning victory.
The Navy and Gold (28-9, 11-4 CCC) returns to Warrior Field tomorrow for a doubleheader against The College of Idaho. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
