CALDWELL, Idaho – In the first of two games in Caldwell this weekend, the Corban University Softball team dropped a pair of conference contests to the No. 22-ranked College of Idaho Yotes, who secured 6-2 and 9-2 wins on their home field to start the third week of Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
"The girls fought hard today, and Vanesa brought it by pitching a great first game," Warriors' head coach Danyelle Huber stated. "The triple play in the first inning of the first game really set the tone that the team was ready to battle and play some solid softball today."
Game 1 - #22 CI 6, CRB 2
In the bottom of the first inning, the Warriors (1-21, 0-8) turned their first triple play of the season when the Yotes (15-7, 7-0) tried to get sneaky in a scoreless contest, as the C of I batter was out on a sacrifice bunt, the runner at third gunned down trying to steal home, and the runner advancing from second to third was nabbed to cap off the opening frame.
However, the Yotes finally broke through in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs that would eventually be all they needed to earn a game one victory. They added a single run in the fourth, followed by two in the sixth for a complete game score sheet.
Corban was able to find a pair of runs in two separate innings, starting in the top of the fifth when junior Jaden South grounded out to the pitcher, which allowed sophomore third baseman Isabel Carattini to score from third. Another RBI-groundout in the top of the seventh by freshman leftfielder Breanna Crosby saw redshirt junior Cambria Kerze score but trading an out in the process resulted in a game-ending strikeout on the very next at-bat.
Warriors' sophomore left-handed starter Vanesa Quinones allowed six runs on nine hits to cross the plate this afternoon, resulting in the loss decision with three walks and a strikeout. Meanwhile, Yotes' starting pitcher Annie Polster pitched a complete game with two runs off three hits against her season totals, walking a trio of Warriors and earning nine punchouts.
Kerze, Carattini, and Crosby all earned base hits in game one for Corban, with the first two scoring the only two runs of the game for the Warriors. Crosby and South each registered an RBI apiece.
The Yotes saw multi-hit performances from designated player Lolo Walker and first baseman Lena Zahniser, with Walker adding a game-high two RBI. Catcher Hallie Holland secured two more RBI in her solo base knock.
Game 2 - #22 CI 9, CRB 2
Back-to-back three-run innings for College of Idaho to start game two of their doubleheader with Corban resulted in another home team win in Caldwell today, with the Warriors scoring their runs in the top of the third and fifth innings of a 9-2 affair.
Sophomore starting pitcher Kate Banks was unable to escape the first inning in her appearance today for the Warriors, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk before sophomore relief pitcher Amy Jankowski relieved her to with two outs in the first. Jankowski pitched a complete inning before allowing three runs of her own on three hits, resulting in the final 4.2 innings to be tossed by senior reliever Alise Olson. She saw three more runs cross home plate under her watch on five hits, four walks, and one strikeout.
Yotes' game two starting pitcher Grace Neer earned the win by allowing two runs on four hits, with four free passes issued to Corban hitters while striking out three. Relief pitcher Abbey Brooks allowed just one base runner over the last 2.1 innings of action via a walk and a single strikeout.
Leadoff hitter and sophomore designated hitter Gianna Redman reached base safely in each of her three plate appearances with two base hits and a walk, scoring one of the Warriors' two runs. Senior catcher Samantha Martinez went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while senior second baseman Sarah Parker nabbed the final hit of the game for her team.
Two different C of I hitters had at least two hits in Friday's final game, with second baseman Ashlynn Nixon and leftfielder Brinley Iverson leading the charge and each scoring a run. Nixon also drew two walks with an RBI.
Corban softball and the College of Idaho will meet tomorrow for the final two contests of their four-game series tomorrow morning, starting at 11am MT, 10am PT.
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