KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – With the overnight snow finally melting at John and Lois Stilwell Stadium and allowing the Corban University Softball team to close out their four-game slate with No. 5-ranked Oregon Tech, the Owls utilized a trio of high-scoring innings to secure 13-0 and 10-2 victories over the Warriors, stretching their conference-best winning streak to 16 games and remaining undefeated on their home field.
"Our girls are ready to use these games and continue to get better each pitch," shared Corban head coach Danyelle Huber. "A lot of lessons have been learned from the ultimate life lesson sport."
Game 1 – No. 5 OIT 13, Corban 0 (5 Innings)
A pair of six-run innings after scoring one in the first allowed the Owls (24-6, 13-2) to stroll to a 13-0 win and secure a sweep of the Warriors (1-31, 0-15) in their conference contests this week. Every run that came around to score in game three of the series counted as earned, with neither team making a single error through the five-inning affair.
Corban sophomore starter Vanesa Quinones had to exit early after a line-drive comebacker forced her to the dugout, allowing the first run to score and thus resulting in the loss decision. Senior relief pitcher Madison Russell and sophomore reliever Kate Banks combined to close out the remaining innings where OIT secured 16 total team hits.
Oregon Tech starter Kacie Schmidt picked up her twelfth win of the season in a two-hit shutout of the Warriors, striking out seven batters and allowing no free passes to pick up the complete game victory.
The Navy and Gold found base hits by graduate student first baseman Sydney Spickelmier and senior third baseman Sarah Parker, as Spickelmier picked up her ninth knock in the previous eight games played.
The top three spots in the Owls' lineup were nearly perfect at the plate, as second baseman Nita Cook, leftfielder Zoe Allen, and shortstop Kaila Mick were a combined 9-for-11, representing five of the runs scored and six of the team's RBI count. Centerfielder Malia Mick was also a multi-hit performer with two base hits and two runs scored.
Game 2 – No. 5 OIT 10, Corban 2 (5 Innings)
Corban's offense was able to score a quick two runs in the top of the first inning after forcing OIT into committing a fielding error that scored sophomore centerfielder Josie Landis once she stole third base, followed by a triple by Spickelmier who scored the next at-bat when Parker doubled into left centerfield, thus providing the Warriors with an early 2-0 lead in the non-conference matchup with the Owls.
However, the Navy and Gold lead wouldn't last for long, as Oregon Tech scored a pair of runs themselves in their own offensive half of the first to knot the game at 2-all. Then in the bottom of the third, first baseman Puakea Milbourne launched a two-run bomb over the outfield fence to effectively wrap up a four-game sweep. The Owls added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth and with one out in the fifth, found the walk-off single from Kaila Mick to enact the run-rule and conclude today's doubleheader.
Warriors' junior starting pitcher Emmaleena Wood was solid in the circle for three innings of work but was unable to escape the fourth inning and thus surrendered her first losing decision of the season after allowing seven runs on seven hits and a quartet of walks. Banks entered in the fourth frame and saw three runs, four hits, and a walk yielded under her watch.
After a 13-1 victory in game two yesterday, Owls' starting pitcher Mckenzie Staub bent but didn't break after allowing two early earned runs, limiting Corban to five hits and a single walk while striking out eight hitters.
All five Warriors to leadoff the game four lineup secured a single hit in the series finale, with Landis and Spickelmier responsible for the runs scored and Parker collecting an RBI.
The Mick sisters wreaked havoc at the plate for the hometown team once again, with the duo scoring five combined runs with two hits apiece while the elder sibling locked up three RBI. Milbourne smashed a game-high five RBI from the fifth spot of the lineup thanks to a pair of hits and scored two runs herself.
Another NAIA Top 10 matchup awaits the Warriors next weekend on their home field, as they'll welcome the reigning national champions and No. 10-ranked Southern Oregon University (24-9, 12-3) to Salem and kick off their four-game series on Friday, April 5th at 2pm.
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