REDDING, Calif. – After a disappointing start to the series yesterday, the No. 23-ranked Corban University softball team issued a resounding response on Sunday, taking each of the final two games against (RV) Simpson University.

The Warriors were in control for the majority of game one, earning a 7-4 triumph. In contrast, game two came down to the wire, with the Navy and Gold pulling away late en route to a thrilling 11-7 finish in extra innings.

In game one, Kaylee Buhrkuhl got things started at the onset, slicing a triple down the right field line to give the Navy and Gold a promising start to the first stanza. She would end up coming home on an error from Red Hawk third baseman Marissa Ramirez, helping Corban jump out in front, 1-0.

Simpson responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, showing signs of another offensive outburst reminiscent of the two squads' prior matchups.

Ally Crakes—who entered the game in relief midway through the first—kept that from happening, however, turning in six and one-third strong innings (8 H, 2 ER) out of the bullpen to limit the potent Simpson bats.  

Trailing 2-1 after the first, a Madison Wyllie RBI double knotted the score at two in the second. The Warriors then rode that momentum to a three-run third, spearheaded by an RBI single from Ivey Uppinghouse and a timely two-out, two-run double from Megan Rybar.

Makiah Johnson added some insurance in the sixth, when she brought home Samantha Martinez on an opposite-field two-bagger.

Simpson mounted a comeback in their last offensive opportunity, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Sarah Probasco entered the game and closed the door to seal the triumph.

After struggling to find its rhythm yesterday, the Corban offense was on full display in game one, as all but one member of the Navy and Gold starting lineup registered a hit.

That theme continued in the second game of the day, as the Corban bats were forced to claw their way out of an early 7-2 deficit.

After Corban scored two runs in the top half of the first—highlighted by an RBI single from Sophia Barbosa—Simpson plated four runs in the bottom half of the first, followed by a run in the second and three in the third.

Unfazed by the daunting margin, the Warriors evened the score in just one half inning, exploding for five runs in the top of the fourth.

A Buhrkuhl base hit got the scoring started in the crucial inning, followed immediately by a two-run single from Taylor Beasley. Kaycee Arase took the baton and loaded the bases with a single of her own, setting the stage for a clutch two-run double from Uppinghouse to tie the game at seven.

The 7-7 deadlock would remain through the seventh, as the two NAIA powerhouses went to extra innings in the nail-biting series finale.

It was once again Buhrkuhl who served as the sparkplug in the pivotal eighth inning, singling and eventually stealing home to give the Navy and Gold the lead.

Barbosa then put the game on ice, blasting a two-run homer to left to expand the lead to three. That was more than enough support for Lauren Besse, who was absolutely brilliant out of the bullpen, turning in six scoreless relief innings and allowing just two hits en route to her first win of the year.

Buhrkuhl (4-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI) and Beasley (3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) had monster games at the dish, pacing Corban's relentless offensive efforts. Arase (2-for-5, 2 R), Barbosa (2-for-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI) and Madison Wyllie (2-for-4, 1 R) each compiled multi-hit performances in the win, as well.

The Warriors (3-3) will finish their season-opening road weekend tomorrow, facing off against William Jessup University in a single contest at 1:30 p.m.