GULF SHORES, Ala. – The (RV) Corban University softball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking defeats on Tuesday, seeing the team's season come to an end at the hands of a 4-1 loss to No. 7-ranked University of Mobile (Ala.) and a 7-6 decision in game two against No. 15 Campbellsville University. 

"It is never easy to end your season on a loss," head coach Abigail Farler said. "It's especially difficult when you feel like the circumstances were under your control and you were capable of performing better. I thought we saw great offense and great fight from our hitters today, but one aspect of the game wasn't going to win the battle for us. I'm proud of this team and how they worked together this year."

The Navy and Gold struggled to solve Mobile ace Hope Cain in game one today's NAIA Opening Round action, mustering just six hits and a lone run in the 4-1 defeat. Cain has been a centerpiece of a Mobile pitching staff that ranks fourth in the country in team ERA (1.26), and she herself moved to 25-3 (1.20 ERA) on the year with today's complete-game triumph.

Corban was forced to play from behind from the get-go, with Mobile striking for a first-inning run to take an early 1-0 advantage. The Warriors had a prime opportunity to answer in the bottom half of the frame after Tatum Prechtel singled and Mahina Chong doubled to lead off the inning, but Cain was able to negate the threat without any damage.

After two runs in the third and another in the seventh, Corban trailed by four heading into its final at-bat. The Warriors attempted to conjure a late rally, as Madison Wyllie brought home the team's first run with an RBI groundout to short, but that would be all Corban could muster in the defeat.

The loss pushed the Navy and Gold into the tournament's elimination bracket, forcing the Warriors to once again square off against No. 15-ranked Campbellsville.

For the majority of the contest, it appeared as if the Warriors were on track for another relatively distress-free victory against the Tigers, as the Corban offense struck for runs in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings.

Megan Rybar (3-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 R) got the scoring started with a two-run blast to center in the second, her sixth of the season. The Tigers erased the deficit with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, but a clutch two-out RBI single from Kaycee Arase (2-for-4) helped Corban regain the lead.

Jessie Isham launched her ninth home run of the year in the contest, a two-run shot in the fourth; and a Mahina Chong (3-for-4, R, RBI) sac fly made it a 6-2 advantage after four and a half complete.

The Tigers would rally for five runs in the next two innings, however, highlighted by a devastating four-run sixth. Ryley Whitney provided the biggest knock of the frame, punctuating the comeback with a two-out, two-RBI double to left.

Alyssa Doty got the start in the afternoon contest. The senior from Charlo, Mont. was outstanding behind the dish, calling pitches and collecting a pair of knocks in three at-bats.

Isham also ended her Corban career with a multi-hit performance (2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBIs), polishing off a historic slash line of .456/.497/.794 in 2019.

Senior shortstop Chong was outstanding at the plate all weekend, finishing her collegiate tenure with an 8-for-13 effort across the past three games.

Speaking on her senior class, Farler said, "We saw awesome leadership from our seniors this year. They have left a legacy and a standard of excellence for future Warriors to live up to."

Corban ends the season with a 37-16 overall record, the program's third-straight season with at least 37 wins.