SALEM, Ore. – The No. 18-ranked Corban University softball team extended its winning streak to 14 games with a pair of wins on Saturday, completing the series sweep of College of Idaho. After winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) opener, 5-2, the Warriors then finished the Yotes off in the fourth game of the series, 4-0.
"We had two great team wins today," said Corban head coach Abigail Farler. "It was nice to see our team turn mistakes into positives today and play for each other. Allie came back and pitched a great game for us today which was awesome."
The Warriors have now swept three-consecutive series overall in CCC play, and thanks to the 14-game winning streak, maintain their spot atop the CCC standings.
On Lil' Warrior day at Warrior Field, a day in which many of the local youth softball players took part in Saturday's softball festivities, Corban rode its pitching to the pair of wins. With both Sabrina Boyd and Allie Mendez delivering the one-two punch, Corban's pitching shut down the C of I bats, resulting in the sweep.
Boyd went the distance in the opener, scattering seven hits while allowing two runs, only one of which was earned. It was her 15th complete game of the year.
At the plate in Saturday's opener on a beautiful sunny day in the Willamette Valley, Maddy Melton tied things up for Corban in the first with an RBI single to score Taylor Eilders. With the score still at 1-1 in the third, Melton ripped an RBI single to third base, pushing the Warriors in front, 2-1.
Still in the third frame, Chaleigh Kirkwood stepped up to the dish as a pinch-hitter for Corban with the bases loaded, and she delivered with a two-RBI single to center field, giving the Warriors a three-run cushion.
C of I pulled one back in the fourth, but then Jessie Isham blasted a double to left field in the fifth, and eventually Taylor Eilders came around to score after a defensive miscue by the Yotes, making it 5-2. Boyd closed the door from there, finishing of the key CCC victory and CCC series sweep for Corban.
Melton led the way with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate with two RBI, while Eilders went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
For the Yotes in the defeat, Destiny Turner remained hot at the dish, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Hailey Chambers tallied a pair of hits in the loss.
Game two saw Mendez dominate from start to finish, as she allowed just six hits while earning her fourth complete-game shutout for Corban. She also struck out six in her 12th win of the season.
At the plate, Sam Woodley scored Corban's first run of the game on an illegal pitch from C of I, and then McKenzie Giancola came in to score a batter later on a sacrifice fly from Kirkwood.
Up by two runs in the fifth, Rodriguez laced an RBI single through the right side to make it 3-0, and then Woodley made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.
From that point on, the Warrior defense locked down and finished off C of I for the four-game sweep.
At the plate, Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Paige Martin also notched a pair of hits for the Navy and Gold. After the games, Rodriguez talked about the series sweep in a post-game interview:
For the Yotes, Courtney Ellis went 3-for-3 at the dish and Bentli Corta registered a pair of hits for C of I in the defeat.
Corban (34-6, 18-3 CCC) returns to action next weekend on the road when it travels to La Grande, Ore., for another pivotal CCC series. The Warriors will face off against Eastern Oregon University on Friday and Saturday, with first pitch on Friday set for 2 p.m.
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