LINCOLN, Calif. – A nine-run marathon where the Corban University Softball team had multiple opportunities to secure their first win of the season slipped through their hands in extra innings, resulting in a 6-2 loss before Westcliff University completed the doubleheader sweep with an 11-0 run-ruling in game two.
"We know what we have to work on, and we are excited to work together to continue piecing things together as a program," said Warriors' head coach Danyelle Huber.
GAME 1 – Westcliff 6, Corban 2 (9 Innings)
Corban's second mascot doppelganger of their season opening trip to northern California jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the third inning, as an RBI single to centerfield was combined with a run-scoring groundout on the next at-bat, putting Corban in an early hole as the designated home team.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Navy and Gold cut the Westcliff lead in half with a two-out rally, as junior centerfielder Jody Fischer drew a walk, advanced to third on a single by junior second baseman Alexis Figueroa and scored on a single through the right side of the infield by junior catcher Alicia Chavez.
One frame later, Corban loaded the bases with no outs and tied the contest up on a full-count walk drawn by sophomore pinch hitter Isabel Carattini tie the contest at 2-2 and threatening with the top of the lineup coming around with a single out in the inning. However, Westcliff was able to induce back-to-back fielder's choice outs at home to end the threat and the Warrior squads to the seventh in a knotted ball game.
A scoreless seventh resulted in the first extra-inning contest of the 2024 season for both Corban and Westcliff, with only a single team error separating the two teams who each had five hits through their first regulation game played. Both teams would see a runner in scoring position in their eighth innings of offense with the extra-innings starting with a runner at second, but each team would be held scoreless and head to a ninth frame in Lincoln.
The patience of Westcliff would finally pay off in the top of the ninth, as they scored four runs to take a commanding lead and eventually secure the first win of today's doubleheader after holding the Warriors out of walk-off situations in two-consecutive innings.
Senior relief pitcher Alise Olson accepted the loss after pitching three innings of scoreless ball, but eventually was tagged for four runs on six hits, a walk, and two strikeouts. Sophomore starter Vanesa Quinones received a no decision after allowing two runs off four hits in 5.0 innings, while sophomore righthander Amy Jankowski came in for the final two outs and saw just one hit added to her season totals.
Westcliff starter Emily Rosas earned the win in game one after leaving and reentering to lead her team to victory, pitching 8.0 frames and allowing just two hits, no runs, and racking up ten strikeouts over Corban batters. Relief pitchers Etta Van Burgsteden and Alex Corrales each gave up a run and three combined hits in a single inning.
Corban spread five hits out over four different batters, with senior rightfielder Samantha Martinez notching a 2-for-4 outing to lead the pack. Chavez and Carattini were responsible for the lone RBI at-bats, while Fischer and Parker each scored a run.
Centerfielder Lauren Coppla and leftfielder Abigail Rainwater each tallied multi-hit games for WU, with Coppla smashing a game-high three RBI and both scoring a pair of runs along the way.
GAME 2 – Westcliff 11, Corban 0 (5 Innings)
The added motivation that Westcliff built up from their win in game one resulted in a quick 3-0 lead in the second matchup of the day, as they scored eleven runs in the first three innings while keeping Corban off the scoreboard despite having runners in scoring position in every frame thus far.
Four different Navy and Gold pitchers took to the circle in game two, with Quinones accepting the loss after allowing six runs on five hits and two strikeouts. Jankowski, Olson, and sophomore Kate Banks combined for the final seven outs of the game by allowing five runs off six hits and four walks.
Rosas picked up her second win in as many games against Corban with a five-hit shutout, striking out three more batters along the way in 75 pitches hurled.
The top four batters in Corban's lineup were all responsible for a single hit in today's second contest, with Parker earning the final base knock out of the seventh spot.
Meanwhile, the first three batters in Westcliff's lineup all had multi-hit showings to conclude today's doubleheader, led by third baseman Alexyia Reyes and shortstop Airilin Ramirez who each tallied three RBI.
One final doubleheader separates the Warriors and their return to Oregon, as they'll make a stop in Redding to play two with Simpson University (0-5) at 11am and 1pm.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email
Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android
