WILSONVILLE, Ore. – For the second-consecutive day, the Corban University Softball team split their doubleheader with Warner Pacific University, as the Knights snagged a 5-4 extra inning win before the Warriors roared back in game four of the series with an 11-6 victory to close out the weekend.
"Our student-athletes played as a true team today," commented Corban head coach Danyelle Huber. "Each player played for the entire team and there was a true desire to compete today. Every teammate stepped up and contributed in some way or another. I am proud of each of them, and it is something special to see perseverance pay off! Some things that stand out to me were clutch hits by Sydney, Vanesa getting a win today in the circle, Lola's big hits and taking home plate on two occasions, Parker behind the plate, and Izzy batting almost perfect today."
Game 1 – Warner Pacific 5, Corban 4 (9 Innings)
The Warriors (4-39, 2-22) and Knights (5-31, 4-20) were effectively playing for their conference tiebreaker today in the third and final CCC game of the series after having split the first two games yesterday in a pair of run-rule winning results for each team.
Picking up right where she left off in yesterday's first doubleheader, graduate student third baseman Sydney Spickelmier singled into left field to score sophomore leftfielder Josie Landis in the process and provide the Navy and Gold an early 1-0 lead.
Three innings later of scoreless softball, the Warner Pacific took their first lead of the game on a bases-clearing double by leftfielder Marin Bliss with every base occupied, resulting in a 3-1 home team advantage and forcing Corban's offense into a corner. A sacrifice flyball by Landis in the top of the fifth, followed by a double steal at first and third by Spickelmier and junior centerfielder Jody Fischer saw the Warriors tie the ballgame back up at three apiece with regulation innings fleeting fast.
An unearned run by WPU in their own offensive half of the fifth saw the Knights take a 4-3 lead into the sixth, which was once again eliminated the very next inning when freshman pinch runner Alyssa Knox stole home plate. Once both offenses were put on ice once again after the bottom of the seventh, the third conference contest between the CCC foes would be decided in extra innings.
The Warriors had a couple of opportunities through the eighth and ninth frames, but were unable to prevent Warner Pacific from walking off in the bottom of the ninth inning on a one-run single by shortstop Kili Makanani that ended the game on the spot.
A quality start by Warriors' sophomore pitcher Amy Jankowski resulted in a no-decision after Corban was able to tie the contest up late despite her three runs allowed on five hits and three walks, with senior reliever Madison Russell and junior relief pitcher Emmaleena Wood combining for 1.1 innings out of the bullpen before sophomore Vanesa Quinones entered for the remainder of the extended matchup. Quinones was on the losing end after allowing the walk-off hit to Makanani despite striking out a pair of batters and seeing just four hits in 3.1 innings of relief.
One of the Knights' few senior student-athletes, starting pitcher Abby Carlson, picked up the complete game victory by allowing all four Corban runs to cross as earned, with eight hits, three walks, and four strikeouts on her final stat line.
Spickelmier was responsible for a quarter of the Warriors' hits in game one today, adding an RBI to the mix along the way. Every other Corban base knock was spread out among six different hitters in the lineup, with Fischer and Landis representing two of those players with a run scored each.
Knights' designated player Briana Munoz was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for WPU, while Bliss' three RBI lead all players in action during the opener today.
Game 2 – Corban 11, Warner Pacific 6
Determined to earn a series split, Spickelmier kicked off the scoring in the top of the first of game four with a sacrifice fly to score Fischer from third, which was covered up in the Knights' bottom half with an unearned run that scored on a single by Munoz. However, the next seven runs to cross the plate would come off the bat of a Warrior, with four separate batters adding RBI to their weekend totals.
Warner Pacific was able to take back two runs in the top of the sixth, which only motivated Spickelmier even more than she already was, as the Aumsville native blasted a two-run homer to start a three-run seventh inning for Corban. Two more WPU runs in the final stretch of the seventh, and Quinones was able to secure the final out to pick up her first win of the season with a game-high six strikeouts.
After picking up the game-winning hit in the third contest, Makanani was tagged for seven runs off seven hits and five walks with two hit batsmen and a quartet of strikeouts, resulting in the losing decision. Relief pitcher Nia Tate entered in the fifth and allowed four more runs off four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
For the fourth-consecutive outing, Spickelmier picked up at least two hits at the plate to raise her season-long batting average to over .300, as she finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored in the series' finale. Sophomore leftfielder Isabel Carattini collected three hits as well, with Fischer picking up the final multi-hit outing for Corban with two base knocks and a game-best four runs scored.
Second baseman Jordyn Rosario was the most consistent Knights' bat from the top of the lineup in game two today, collecting four hits on five plate appearances along with three RBI and two runs. Makanani was joined by first baseman Jovita Laloulu and Kassidie Bukoski with two hits apiece.
Corban softball will return to Salem for their regular season finale games this upcoming weekend, as they'll host the University of British Columbia (22-19, 13-10) for the first of two doubleheaders on Friday, April 26th at 2/4pm.
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