REDDING, Calif. - Thanks to timely hitting and shutdown pitching in the first two games of the season at the Simpson Invite, the No. 17 Corban University Softball team went 2-1 in its first three games of the year. The Warriors registered a 7-6 win over Menlo College in the opener, a 2-0 triumph over William Jessup University in the second game of the day, and then eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat against (RV) Simpson University.
Click the 'Play Button' on the photo above for video highlights from the wins.
Photo Gallery from the day
In the opening game of the 2016 season for the Warriors, Corban started off on the right foot when freshman right-fielder Grace Utto-Galarneau (Lacey, Wash.) stepped up to the dish. Utto-Galarneau, in her first-career collegiate at-bat blasted a long three-run homerun over the left-field fence, putting the Warriors up early.
Corban tacked on two more in the third frame and then two more in the fifth when freshman designated player Ashton Porter (Tualatin, Ore.) laced a two-RBI single through the left side, extending the advantage to 7-2. Menlo made things interesting late, scoring four runs in the final two frames, but Corban eventually finished off the Oaks in the 7-6 triumph.
Utto-Galarneau finished the game going 2-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored in her collegiate debut. In the circle, it was senior Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) dealing, as she earned the win while pitching five innings and allowing six hits and two runs, neither of which were earned.
Immediately jumping back onto the field for their next game, the Warriors faced off against William Jessup, and for Corban, it was a fantastic pitching performance and great individual hitting performance that led the Warriors to a 2-0 win. Junior center fielder Taylor Eilders (Cameron Park, Calif.) led the first frame off with a long ball over the left-field fence, and then she followed that up in her next at-bat with almost a carbon copy of her first homerun, blasting the ball over the left-field wall to double Corban's lead.
In the circle, it was junior pitcher Allie Mendez (Stockton, Calif.) who went the distance in her first-career start for the Warriors, dispersing just four hits while striking out four en route to the complete-game shutout.
After the first two wins, Eilders and Utto-Galarneau talked about the victories in a post-game interview:
"Today was a good day of softball," said Corban head softball coach Nathan Ohta. "We saw some really good things from the girls today, were able to get a lot of different players into the lineup, and came away with a couple of good wins. Playing competitive games in our preseason like we did today is definitely going to help us as the season progresses, and I'm excited about how the team is playing right now."
In the final game of the day, Corban dropped a tightly-contested battle against (RV) Simpson, 2-1, stranding 10 runners on base throughout the nightcap. Corban outhit Simpson, 7-5, and took a 1-0 lead, but the Red Hawks came from behind to register the win over the Warriors. Simpson (9-0), remains undefeated on the season.
Corban (2-1) returns to the diamond tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. against Menlo College, and then will finish the Simpson Invite out with two games in the afternoon and evening.
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