SALEM, Ore. – In a battle of two of the NAIA's best, the No. 24-ranked Corban University softball team split its conference-opening doubleheader against No. 8 Oregon Tech on Friday, dropping game one by a 9-1 score before rallying to take game two by a 12-8 tally.

"Any time we face OIT, we know it's going to be a dog fight," said head coach Rachel Martin. "Their offense was hot and their defense was solid in the first game, and it took too long to get our bats going. But these girls have so much fight. We shook off the first game and came back with more energy than ever."

Sarah Abramson stole the show in the circle in game one, holding the Navy and Gold to just three hits and one run in her complete-game win.

The Warriors' were well within reach for the majority of the contest, as Oregon Tech led by just two runs at the end of five complete.

The Owls would rattle off a four-run sixth, however, putting the game out of reach.

Six members of Oregon Tech's starting lineup—Olivia Lethlean (2-for-4), Aubrie Businger (2-for-3), Mackenzie Driscoll (2-for-3), Brianna Griffiths (2-for-4), Shelby Hotchkiss (2-for-3), and Kaila Mick (3-for-4)—finished with a multi-hit performance in the triumph.

True to form for the in-state rivals, there was no shortage of drama in the second game of the twinbill.

Corban jumped out to a first-inning lead on an RBI single from Kayla Bailey, before OIT erased the deficit with a run of its own in the following frame. The Warriors plated four unanswered between the third and fourth innings, with an RBI double from Anastasia Iosia and a two-run single from Makiah Johnson providing the firepower in a three-run fourth.

The Warriors carried a 5-1 lead into the fifth, but that advantage would be erased quickly, as Driscoll launched a game-tying three-run blast to cap off a four-run response from the Owls.

Unfazed, Mariah Hyre answered back with a solo shot of her own in the bottom half of the stanza, once again giving Corban the lead.

After two runs in the top of the sixth helped OIT jump in front, a clutch two-run single up the middle from Bailey put the Warriors in front in the bottom of the inning. The hit would spark a six-run rally for the Navy and Gold, who finally compiled a lead beyond the reach of the resilient Owls.

Bailey finished with an impressive 3-for-4 game at the dish. In addition, Johnson (2-for-3) set the table out of the leadoff spot, and Hyre (2-for-4) and Megan Rybar (2-for-4) each collected a pair of knocks.

"Today's victory was a total team win," added Martin. "We look forward to bringing that game into tomorrow as we play for a bigger cause."

Corban (3-5, 1-1 CCC) and Oregon Tech will return to the field tomorrow, collaborating on a 'hit-a-thon' dedicated towards raising funds to help those affected by cancer. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is slated for 11 a.m. at Warrior Field.