SALEM, Ore. – The defending national champion Raiders of No. 3-ranked Southern Oregon University flexed their arms and bats today in their series opener against the Corban University Softball program, as their starting pitchers combined to allow one runs off three hits across 14 innings while tallying 15 runs off 26 runs themselves in 7-0 and 8-1 victories at Warrior Field.
"Tough couple of innings made for a challenging day," shared Corban head coach Jeff Covalt. "Overall, we played well for 12 of the 14 innings. I'm happy with how hard our team worked on defense. If we could only just string together a few more hits, tomorrow can be a lot of fun facing one of the best teams in the country. I'm proud of Vanesa and Amy for both pitching well against a good SOU lineup."
A five-run top of the first in game one and another five plated in the top of the second of game two proved to be the difference makers for the Raiders (23-9, 6-5) on the scoreboard as they jumped above .500 in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play for just the second time all season. While their offense did just enough to keep themselves multiple runs ahead of the Warriors (2-18, 2-9) all day long in a pair of 7-inning contests, it was their pitching staff that wowed those in attendance on Corban's campus by allowing just three hits all day long thanks to stacking up 16 Navy and Gold strikeouts.
SOU's starting rotation of Ayla Davies and Lexi Ramirez showed why they're one of the best one-two punches across the country, as Davies clinched the complete game shutout in the doubleheader opener while Ramirez took a perfect game bid into the fifth inning before the Dubs plated their first run of the day thanks to a leadoff base hit from freshman catcher Shelby Hillyer.
Credit to the Raiders' lineup is due considering the Corban pitching staff consisting of seniors Kate Banks, Amy Jankowski, and Vanesa Quinones delivered solid outings behind minimal defensive errors, as the Southern Oregon hitters saw the ball well all day long to tally double-digit hits in both contests. Banks accepted the loss in game one after allowing six earned runs in 2.2 frames, while Quinones was the game two losing pitcher despite completing the 7.0 innings in 104 total pitches.
The three Corban hits on the day came off the bats of Hillyer, senior leftfielder Josie Landis, and senior designated player Peyton Foreman, with Foreman's representing the only extra-base hit thanks to a double to the left centerfield wall in game one. Hillyer was replaced by junior pinch runner Hannah Griffith following her game two single to left and eventually scored the Warriors' lone run of the doubleheader on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior third baseman Leata Senio.
Eight different multi-hit performances were secured by Raider hitters across games one and two, led by Ramirez and third baseman Avery Coffin who each tallied two hits apiece in both contests. Ramirez jacked a three-run homer in the top of the first of game one for three RBI, while catcher Kierstin Grotewiel tallied three RBI of her own in game two. Shortstop Brooke Nordahl registered multiple RBI (2 per game) in both matchups.
The Warriors and Raiders wrap up their four-game set tomorrow beginning at 11am back at the foot of Corban's campus.
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