RICHLAND, Wash. - The 17th-ranked Corban University softball team won twice more on Sunday while losing once, closing out the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Crossover Tournament with a 4-1 record from the weekend. After taking down Walla Walla University 15-0 in Sunday's opener, the Warriors dropped a tight one against Carroll College, 7-5, before then coming from behind to defeat Eastern Oregon University in the finale, 5-3.
"Seven games in four days is a lot, but the girls had really good energy today," said Corban head coach Nathan Ohta. "It was great to close out our preseason with a couple of solid wins as we move into conference play. The girls did a lot of really good things today and just keep getting better and better."
In the opener, the Warriors jumped all over the Walla Walla Wolves, scoring nine times in the first inning to take a commanding lead. The Warriors then scored three more in the second and three more in the fourth before winning in five frames.
Three players hit home runs in the contest, as freshman right fielder Grace Utto-Galarneau (Lacey, Wash.), sophomore catcher Chaleigh Kirkwood (Newport, Wash.), and junior third baseman Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.) all hit balls over the fence.
Kirkwood led the way at the dish with a 3-for-3 performance, three RBI, and three runs scored. In addition, off the bench, senior McCayla Hoffman (Bothell, Wash.) registered two hits and three RBI for the Warriors. Moreover, Sluder finished with three RBI for the Corban in the triumph.
Earning the win in the circle was sophomore Sabrina Boyd (Pleasant Hill, Ore.), as she pitched three shutout innings of no-hit ball, striking out three in the process.
In game two of the day, the Warriors faced off against Carroll College. Corban fell into a 5-1 hole that ultimately proved too deep to climb out of, resulting in the two-run defeat. Sluder and sophomore first baseman Raina Reece (Salem, Ore.) both blasted home runs in the contest for the Warriors in what almost turned out to be a dramatic comeback victory. It was ultimately five errors that came back to haunt the Navy and Gold in the game, as only three of Carroll's runs were earned.
In the fifth and final game of the CCC Crossover Tournament, Corban once again faced off against EOU, a team it had beaten one day prior by a pair of runs.
Eastern Oregon took a 2-1 lead over the Warriors in the top of the fourth, but Utto-Galarneau tied things up in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot to left field. One inning later, junior center fielder Taylor Eilders (Cameron Park, Calif.) smashed a two-run bomb over the center field fence, putting Corban in front 4-2.
The Warriors added one more in the sixth inning before closing the game out in the seventh and earning their fourth win of the CCC Crossover Tournament.
Senior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) earned the victory for Corban, while Boyd came on in relief and picked up the save. Holsinger struck out nine during six innings pitched, allowing five hits and two runs.
Eilders finished the game 3-for-3 at the dish with three RBI.
Corban (14-7) begins CCC play at home next week when it hosts Southern Oregon University and Oregon Tech in marquee matchups. First pitch against SOU on Friday is set for 2 p.m. at Warrior Field, while Saturday's doubleheader with the Owls is set for 11 a.m.
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