SALEM, Ore. – A late-game rally and an offensive showcase allowed the visiting squad to take a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) games from the Corban University Softball team (7-20, 5-11), as the Warriors fell 5-2 and 11-1 in the first two games on their home field against the Carroll College Saints (11-15, 7-7).
"This squad is fully equipped with the tools, heart, and momentum needed to earn wins within this conference, and once we figure out how to secure all three of those keys in a seven-inning game, the wins will start coming with them," Warriors' Head Coach Danyelle Huber shared earlier this evening.
Game 1 – Carroll 5, Corban 2
In a day that featured double-digit runs for the road team, the Warriors were the first to strike in game one right off the bat in the bottom of the first inning. After sophomore center fielder Jody Fischer slapped a single into left field to start the frame, she promptly stole second and then scored two batters later when freshman catcher Kailey Betz singled into left field. Betz advanced all the way to third base on the play, scoring herself after graduate student right fielder Madison Wyllie doubled down the left field line and providing the Warriors with an early 2-0 lead.
However, the Carroll offense was able to tie the game up in the top of the third inning, as back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt set two runners in scoring position that crossed home plate on a two-RBI single from third baseman Alyssa Lybbert.
Two full innings would go on to pass until the next run crossed the plate, as the Saints patched together a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning with a runner at second base that pinch hitter Haylee Curry exposed in her first at-bat of the series, doubling into left field to give Carroll a 3-2 lead.
The visiting squad added some insurance runs in the top of the seventh via a two-run homer from first baseman Kaitlynn Ayers, pushing their advantage to 5-2 and needing just three outs to seal the game one win, which they were able to secure after a leadoff double by junior left fielder Sarah Bradshaw.
Warriors' freshman starting pitcher Vanesa Hulett-Quinones dropped her seventh contest of the year by allowing five runs off 12 hits in 7.0 innings of action, striking out two batters and walking just one.
Meanwhile, Saints' starting pitcher Abby Hanley earned just her third win on the season with a two-run, six-hit appearance in a complete game effort, walking two hitters and striking out a game-high 10 Corban batters.
Wyllie and Betz were the lone RBI recipients in game one, while Bradshaw recorded the only multi-hit contest with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate. Fischer and junior designated player Morgan Gleeson also each tallied a base knock.
Ayers put together a perfect 3-for-3 at-bats this afternoon with two RBI and a run scored, while Lybbert's two RBI came on her seventh-inning slam to clinch the victory. Among the multi-hit club for the Saints were also left fielder Jessica Nimmo and center fielder Amber Brewer.
Game 2 – Carroll 11, Corban 1 (5 Innings)
It was all offense for the Saints and no retaliation at the plate in game two, as Carroll jumped out to a five-run lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back, as Carroll starting pitcher Kennedy Venner limited the Warriors to just three hits and a single run in a run-rule shortened game where she fanned 12 batters.
The lone bit of offense for the Navy and Gold didn't appear until the bottom of the fifth inning of their last possible chance to extend this game, as Fischer logged one of three team hits to get on base with two outs, then stole her second and third bases of the day to force a throwing error and score the first run of the game standing up. From there, the Warriors threatened with the bases loaded, but a strikeout swinging put the comeback on ice and ended the rainy afternoon doubleheader.
Four different pitchers took to the circle for Corban in game two, with freshman starting pitcher Katelyn Willard taking the loss in her first pitching appearance of the season, allowing five runs off five hits in just 0.2 innings to start the contest.
Fischer, Betz, and sophomore second baseman Chas Walch were the few sparkplugs in the Warriors' offense in the back half of the doubleheader, with each of them recording a base hit against Venner.
Ayers completed her perfect afternoon with another 3-for-3 performance, scoring a run and adding two more RBI to her resume. Nimmo found her way on base two more times via hits to score two runs, while nine more batters each recorded solo-hit games.
Corban and Carroll will both take the field once again tomorrow at 11am PDT, as the two CCC foes look to close out their conference series with two more games at Warrior Field.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email
Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android
