KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The No. 22 Corban University softball team left the bases loaded on two separate occasions, and the Warriors fell to No. 12 Oregon Tech, 13-3, in game one of the Oregon Tech Bracket of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Opening Round.
"I thought the girls played a lot better than the score showed today," said head coach Nathan Ohta. "It was another battle between two high-powered offenses. We had our chances and they had theirs. They made a couple big pitches to get out of jams and had the ball bounce their way a couple of times, but overall it was still a great effort from our team. We'll be ready to go tomorrow and see if we can fight back through. We'd definitely like another crack at them after today."
Oregon Tech out-hit Corban 14-8, and the Navy and Gold left a total of eight runners stranded in the defeat.
Senior right-fielder RaeAnna Dorcas (Everett, Wash.) batted 1-for-3 with three RBI, including a three-run homer in the fifth inning to put hte Navy and Gold on the board. Meanwhile, both sophomore catcher Danielle Ackerman (Dallas, Ore.) and junior designated player Jamie Costa (Tracy, Calif.) registered two hits apiece for Corban.
Junior lefty Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) suffered just her fourth loss in the circle after yielding five earned runs and collecting three strikeouts. The Navy and Gold saw 1.2 innings from junior pitcher Emily Buhrkuhl (Stockton, Calif.), as she booked two strikeouts and surrendered one earned run.
In the first inning, the Owls plated a trio of runs on two hits to snag an early lead. With two runners on, senior first baseman Tasha Silvius launched a flyout that ended up being dropped by the Warrior outfield, and Oregon Tech scored two runs in the process. Moments later, sophomore third baseman Sadie Birch singled to left-center field to drive home Silvius and give the Owls a 3-0 advantage.
After leaving three runners stranded in the first, Corban (38-17) logged a hitless inning in the second frame to remain scoreless. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech kept the pressure on the Navy and Gold, as the Owls loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning. Junior catcher Ariel Fulkerson proceeded to belt an RBI single, and then sophomore shortstop Karly LeVeque drew a bases-loaded walk to put Oregon Tech on top, 5-0.
In the bottom of the third frame, Ackerman and senior third baseman Kyrianna Sorensen (Salem, Ore.) mustered back-to-back singles with one out to put two runners on. Costa followed with a powerful line drive to center field to juice the bases, but senior pitcher Rylee Carleton notched two strikeouts to retire the side, and the Navy and Gold left the bases loaded for the second time in the ball game.
In the fourth, the Owls (42-14) claimed an 8-0 advantage after Silvius struck with a three-run homer to left field. Buhrkuhl replaced Holsinger in the circle, and the California native struck out senior pinch hitter Kayla Prock and then forced a foul out to escape the inning.
Junior shortstop Kali Van Cleave (Portland, Ore.) singled with one out in the fourth, and then sophomore second baseman Aubrene Blas (Sparks, Nev.) drew a walk to put two Warriors on. But runners left on base continued to haunt Corban, as Carleton collected two quick outs to flee the jam.
In the top of the fifth inning, Oregon Tech piled on five hits and five runs, as Prock capped the frame with a two-out, two-run double to give the Owls a commanding 13-0 lead.
Corban broke its dry spell in the bottom of half of the fifth thanks to Dorcas. After Costa reached on a walk and Eilders ripped a one-out double, Dorcas launched her fourth homer of the year to put the Navy and Gold on the board, 13-3.
However, Corban's comeback attempt ultimately came up short, as Carleton recorded her 18th victory in the circle and secured the 13-3 win for the Owls.
The Warriors return to action tomorrow in an elimination game against the loser of the Saint Xavier-Avila matchup. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available for tomorrow's contest.
