REDDING, Calif. – A no-hit bid by the Corban University Softball pitching staff in their season opener endured until the top of the seventh inning before the Firestorm of Arizona Christian University registered their first base hit of the contest, scoring three runs late by taking advantage of some costly Warrior turnovers to complete a 3-0 shutout tonight on day one of the Simpson Round Robin tourney.
"I'm super proud of Miranda, as she pitched great for us today, we just couldn't string together any hits," began Corban head coach Jeff Covalt when asked to discuss their season opener result. "Overall, a tough finish to a game we defensively played so well in up until the last two innings, but some great takeaways to move forward with and good experience for some of our freshman starters."
An incredible opening day start from sophomore starting pitcher Miranda Scovil fell just short of victory, as the second-year righthander went 6.0 innings of one unearned run softball off no hits, tying her career-high in strikeouts by sitting down 12 ACU batters tonight before the bullpen allowed the first hit of the game in relief to start the top of the seventh. Of the three runs scored by the Firestorm (5-4), only one crossed home plate earned due to three Corban (0-1) fielding errors over the final two frames.
Arizona Christian starting pitcher Dayna Herrera secured a complete game shutout of the Navy and Gold by spreading out five hits across 7.0 innings off 114 pitches, stranding six baserunners and falling one strikeout shy of Scovil's game-high mark.
Despite struggling defensively over the final two innings, the Dubs' offense was able to put runners and get them into scoring position, just weren't able to get the timely hits they needed to plate some runs on Opening Day. Sophomore first baseman Mckenna Hanson led all hitters with a 3-for-3 outing, recording a pair of singles and a ground-rule double to kick off her second year as a Warrior. Freshman third baseman Irene VanDyke and junior centerfielder Breanna Crosby each collected a base hit apiece, while Crosby drew the lone walk issued by Herrera today.
The only two hits of the day for ACU came in the top of the seventh, as catcher Christina Grubb and rightfielder Avery Slater each singled against Corban senior reliever Vanesa Quinones to eventually plate two more runs.
The Warriors will look to shake off the opening day loss tomorrow with a three-game slate on tap following a day one rainout, as they'll battle Westcliff University (7-3), Park University-Gilbert (4-7), and the Firestorm once again at 10am, 12pm, and 4pm, respectively.
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