SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University softball team shared the spoils with Carroll College on Friday afternoon at Warrior Field. After winning game one in a pitcher's duel, 3-1, the Warriors dropped a slugfest in game two to the Fighting Saints, 12-11.
"The girls gave us a great effort today," said Corban head coach Nathan Ohta. "It was great to see them come out and get to Carroll's ace in game one. She's a kid we very well may see in the CCC Tournament, so it is good to have that confidence going in."
In game one, it was senior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) that registered yet another stellar outing, throwing a complete game while allowing just seven hits and only one run in the triumph. She also struck out seven along the way.
The Warriors actually trailed midway through the contest after Carroll's Megan Gipe ripped a home run over the left field wall, but in the fifth inning, Warrior freshman right fielder Grace Utto-Galarneau (Lacey, Wash.) came up with the big hit for the Navy and Gold.
With a pair of runners on base, Utto-Galarneau ripped a two-RBI double to left field, scoring both Warrior runners to put Corban in front. She then stole third base and scored on a throwing error to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
That was all the run support Holsinger would need as she shut the door in the sixth and seventh frames, completing the win for the Warriors.
In game two, Warrior junior pitcher Allie Mendez (Stockton, Calif.) blasted a two-run home run in the first inning to give Corban the early advantage.
Corban tacked on three more runs in the third and one in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead heading into the sixth inning.
Carroll exploded in the sixth and seventh innings, however, storming back to tie things up in the sixth at 6-6, and then scored six more runs in the seventh to make it a 12-6 lead, shocking Corban.
The Warriors wouldn't go down without a fight though, and while taking advantage of some Fighting Saints' errors, Corban scored five runs and had the tying run on at second base with the winning run at the plate. A strikeout would end the game, however, resulting in the split.
"The girls showed a lot of fight in the second game," said Ohta. "We got a couple of weird bounces that led to Carroll taking a lead late in the game and it would have been easy to cash it in, but they fought all the way to the end and almost pulled off the big comeback."
On the year, both teams won two games in the four games played between the two sides.
Carroll (24-18, 11-11 CCC) racked up 17 hits in the game-two victory, with Tianna Sell and Gipe both totaling three hits apiece, while Paige Blake went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.
For Corban, both Iris Rodriguez (Warden, Wash.) and sophomore outfielder Maddy Melton (Salem, Ore.) recorded two hits apiece in the defeat.
Corban (32-17, 16-10 CCC) returns to action tomorrow for Senior Day vs. the University of Great Falls. First pitch has been moved up to 8 a.m. to try to avoid the rain that is set to start around noon.
Become a fan of Corban Athletics on Facebook
Follow Corban Athletics on Twitter @CorbanAthletics
Follow Corban Athletics on Instagram: corban_athletics
Follow Corban Athletics on Snapchat: corbanathletics
Watch Corban Warrior videos on Youtube: CorbanUAthletics
Sign up for our Corban Warriors email Newsletter
#WarriorNation
