WILSONVILLE, Ore. – Down by double-digits in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Corban University Softball team (2-13, 1-5) found that grit they've been looking for all season in an incredible comeback victory to earn their first Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) win of the season, scoring 11 unanswered runs over the next four frames to steal a win from under the Northwest University Eagles' (12-5, 5-1) beaks. The Eagles managed to take the series by completing game two that was originally suspended yesterday with a 12-9 final score, then following it up in the night cap with an 8-2 win to earn the series win 3-1.

"The team brought fight and heart this weekend, especially in that third game," Corban Head Coach Danyelle Huber said shortly after their semi-tripleheader this afternoon. "I'm proud of them for the way they were able to flip the script and pull off their first conference win. The momentum is now on their side!"

Game 2 – Northwest 12, Corban 9 (Resumed from 3/3/23)

Although it sprinkled on and off throughout game one, the second half of today's doubleheader wasn't as generous when it came to fending off the forces of nature, with the game eventually being halted late in the afternoon.

Prior to the sudden halt, Northwest had secured a cushy 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning off Warriors' freshman starting pitcher Vanessa Hulett-Quinones, scoring on a double and a pair of singles to plate four different baserunners and force the Corban offense to wake up the bats once more.

Although it was two half innings later, the bats did just that for Corban, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth via a single and then a ground out to first base that allowed two runners to come around to touch home plate after Eagles' first baseman Chloe Van Boekhout threw the ball too wide of the catcher.

Right before the game was called short, Northwest tacked on the go-ahead run after a throwing error on a potential pickoff, resulting in a run to come in all the way around from second base after the ball went deep into the outfield.

We picked up right where we left off on Saturday morning back at Wilsonville HS, as the Eagles used their evening to rest the bats and utilize them right off the bat with a runner on first and one out, scoring six more runs on multiple bases loaded walks and a pair of singles.

The Warriors were able to earn four more runs back in their bottom half of the sixth inning, but the hole they dug themselves once the game was resumed was too tall a task for them in the final inning, as a solo home run from junior first baseman Paia'ala Wilcox-Molina came on deaf ears after the Eagles secured the 21st and final out of the contest.

Hulett-Quinones took the loss after getting bounced around for 7.0 innings of work, allowing nine runs on 11 hits, striking out a trio of batters along the way. Freshman relief pitcher Amy Jankowski came in on relief to help bear the load of the high-scoring Eagle offense, but was unable to secure an out while allowing three runs on three hits and a pair of walks.

Northwest starting pitcher Bella King secured the first of two victories she would earn on the day in the completed game two, pitching a complete game to the tune of nine runs on nine hits, walking two batters and hitting another.

Sophomore shortstop/second baseman Chas Walch secured a team-high three hits in game two, scoring two runs along the way. Freshman catcher Kailey Betz assisted with two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored in four plate appearances, while Wilcox-Molina's seventh inning slam was the first of two hits and part of her RBI and run scored.

Boekhout redeemed herself defensively by having a solid game at the plate, securing three hits and scoring a run. Third baseman Sydney Maurer complimented with two hits, four RBI and two runs, while leftfielder Paige Creasey locked up three hits, three RBI and crossed the plate herself on two occasions.

Game 3 – Corban 16, Northwest 15

With the second game of the series stretching into day two, game three was the victim of not only a late start time, but an incredibly high-scoring affair between the two CCC opponents, totaling 31 runs off 37 hits for quite possibly the game of the year.

The Eagles picked up right where they left off with their game two offense in the top of the first inning, scoring six quick runs to make it appear this game was over before it even started. Corban would earned three back in their half of the first, but needed to see some consistency from the pitching staff and defense if they wanted to earn their first CCC win.

Northwest went on a 9-2 scoring run to open up a 15-5 advantage, forcing Coach Huber and the Warriors to attack the Eagle pitchers with intention and as often as possible, while their defense would need to minimize mistakes and make plays down the stretch if they had any chance of pulling off the comeback bid.

Inning by inning, the Navy and Gold slowly whittled down their shortfall, cutting the lead from double-digits to eight runs, then six, then five by the bottom of the seventh inning, staring a 15-10 deficit right in the face with three outs to go.

Before the bottom of the seventh could arrive, an outstanding assist was made by sophomore centerfielder Jody Fischer to keep an incredibly important Eagle run off the board, as she gunned down the runner attempting to score from second base to log the second out in an inning that seemed like a momentum killer for the Warriors.

The first four Corban batters of the final frame reached base to score a run, providing a bases loaded scenario for Walch. A deep sacrifice flyball allowed junior catcher Morgan Gleeson to trot home from third base, which then saw the runners of first and second base tag up and advance on the throw to home plate.

With the tying run now at the plate, represented by Wilcox-Molina, the Warriors just needed a little extra gas left in the tank to reset this game. In storybook fashion, Wilcox-Molina smashed the first decent pitch she saw over the left field fence, causing the Corban dugout to erupt from all angles and stun the small brigade of Northwest fans in attendance.

With all the momentum now on the Warriors' side, Betz and graduate student right fielder Madison Wyllie reached via an error and single, respectively, setting up a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, a perfect walk-off scenario.

Enter freshman third baseman Isabel Carattini, who came in as a defensive swap in the middle of the game, stepping to the plate with not a single hit to her young collegiate career. With the entirety of this game having been one of the wildest rollercoaster rides of the year, it made perfect sense that Carattini would dig deep to slash a single between the first and second baseman, allowing Betz to race home from second base and complete the unreal comeback victory for the Navy and Gold.

Three different Warriors combined for the first 4.0 innings of action this afternoon in game three, as junior starting pitcher Alise Olson, junior lefty Madison Russel, and junior relief pitcher Sage Vanterpool combined for all 15 runs the Eagles managed to plate off 14 hits, striking out three total batters and walking four more. Hulett-Quinones would step in as the defensive hero in the circle for Corban, throwing 3.0 innings of no-run ball, allowing only four hits and just one walk to secure her first win of the season.

While Eagles' starting pitcher Natalie Dimitrov was able to pitch through 3.1 innings with minimal damage of seven runs on nine hits and four strikeouts, most of the late-inning collapse by Northwest falls on the shoulders of relief pitcher Sydney Maurer, who entered in the bottom of the fourth inning to eventually allow nine more runs on 10 hits, striking out only one batter along the way.

The Corban offense finally showed what they're capable of by scoring in every single inning, led by Wyllie's 4-for-5 performance with four RBI and a run scored. Betz added a pair of hits with four runs scored, while Wilcox-Molina's game-tying homer capped off a three-hit, three RBI performance.

Despite her struggles in the circle, Maurer absolutely crushed the ball in the batter's box, tallying three hits and a game-high five RBI with a run scored. Catcher Abby Blahut earned the team-high in hits with another 4-for-5 afternoon, scoring a pair of runs as well.

Game 4 – Northwest 8, Corban 2

An incredible amount of credit goes to the Northwest lineup in the fourth and final game, as one would think that after blowing a 10-run lead, spirits would be riding much lower than usual in the dugout. However, the Eagles proved everyone wrong by finishing the job they came to Wilsonville to complete, scoring the first seven runs of the final game and riding another dominant performance in the circle by King.

It wasn't until the fifth inning that the Warriors were able to build together some offense, as a double from Gleeson allowed junior second baseman Samantha Martinez to trot home from second base.

Both squads exhausted their efforts after posting an obscene amount of runs in their four-game series, each adding one score apiece in their halves of the seventh frame to close out the series at Wilsonville HS, 8-2 in favor of Northwest.

Hulett-Quinones was unable to recreate the dominate outing in game three in a start for game four, as she was charged with seven of the eight Eagle runs on five hits, walking three batters and cashing out on another. Sophomore relief pitcher Emmaleena Wood threw the remaining 5.2 innings needed to close out the home opening weekend, with just one run crossing the plate under her watchful eye on five hits and three strikeouts.

King picked up her second win on the day thanks to a two-run, 10-hit affair where the Eagles' defense was able to limit their mistakes to no errors, something that cost them greatly in game three. She improved to 6-2 on the year and continues to make strides as a dual-threat player.

Wilcox-Molina solidified her spot on the Warriors' throne with a perfect 3-for-3 performance in her final outing of the weekend, while Wyllie picked up another two hits and an RBI.

First baseman Chloe Van Boekhout had her first big game of day to help lead the Eagles to the series win, securing a team-high three hits and an RBI. Her infield-half teammate, second baseman Olivia Brown, posted two-hits and three RBI, as well as a run scored.

Corban Softball will now turn their attention to a midweek rivalry doubleheader with the Bushnell University Beacons, with first pitch scheduled for 1pm PST next Tuesday, March 7th, at Warrior Field on Corban's campus. Due to the heavy rainfall in the Willamette Valley, location and times may be altered to help alleviate the spring weather, stay tuned to CorbanWarriors.com and the Corban Athletics/Corban Softball social media accounts for more updates.

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