Corban freshman Jennifer Kollaer went perfect in her three official at-bats against Pacific, including a career and season-high six RBI.
Corban Splits Softball Twinbill with Pacific
PORTLAND, Ore.. – Freshman Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) went a combined 3-for-3 with six RBI, but it was not enough as Corban's softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games, 9-8 & 9-1, to NCAA Division III member Pacific Wednesday at Delta Park.
Playing for the first time this season in the state of Oregon, Corban went head-to-head with the Boxers of Pacific and had a chance to ruin its NCAA Division III opponent's season openers.
Game #1 -- Pacific 9, Corban 8
In the opening game, Corban scored the first runs via a double to left center by Kollaer that scored senior Lindsay Batey (Aloha, Ore.) and freshman Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.). Unfortunately for the Warriors, Pacific put up six unanswered runs in the 1st and 2nd innings to take a 6-2 lead heading into the top of the third.
In the top of the third innings, Corban put three runs on the board via Kollaer's second collegiate home run to right field that scored Batey and sophomore Josie Strange (Chehalis, Wash.).
Trailing by the slim margin of 6-5 heading into the top of the fifth inning, Corban put another pair of runs on the board via a single to the pitcher by sophomore Siriana Guest (Salem, Ore.) that scored Strange before Kollaer scored on a throwing error by the Boxers' pitcher.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban clung to a slim one-run lead (7-6) before allowing three runs to cross the plate via three hits en route to handing the host Boxers a 9-7 lead heading into the seventh and final inning.
Corban had one last chance as Strange followed an inning-opening strikeout by Jones with a single to left field. Immediately following Strange's one-bagger, Batey stroked a single up the middle before Kollaer was hit by a pitch to the load the bases with one out. Guest was then walked therefore bringing Strange across the plate for the Warriors' eighth run. With the bases loaded, senior Jennifer Childers (Winston, Ore.) struck out looking before sophomore Kacie Emerick (Bellingham, Wash.) ended the game with the line out to the Boxers' third baseman therefore ending all comeback chances that the Warriors had.
In the opener, Strange, Batey, and Kollaer each tallied a pair of hits while Kollaer drove in five RBI to go along with a pair of runs scored. Junior Karlee Sisler (Corvallis, Ore.) began the game in the circle for Corban going three innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on nine hits before handing the ball over the junior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) for the final three innings. Sailors allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits, while registering a team-high six strikeouts.
For Pacific, Caitlin Mastenbroek went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. Meanwhile, Miranda McNealy began the game for the Boxers in the circle going the first six innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits with a game-high 11 K's before handing the ball over to Andrea Bansen for the game's final inning.
Game #2 -- Pacific 9, Corban 1
In the finale, Corban scored the game's opening run via a single up the middle by Kollaer that scored Jones but that was all that the Warriors would get in the night cap.
Pacific scored three runs in the second inning, two in the third, a single run in the fourth, and three runs in the fifth en route to securing the eight-run mercy rule victory.
Jones led the Warriors with a pair of hits in three plate appearances, while Kollaer registered a hit in her lone official at-bat. Meanwhile, Childers and sophomore Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.) were the only other Warriors to record hits as the duo each went 1-for-2 at the plate. In the circle for Corban, Kollaer went the distance allowing nine runs (five earned) on seven hits while registering a pair of strikeouts.
For Pacific, Kelly Nishitomi and Jessie Garcia each recorded a pair of hits to go along with three other Boxers that recorded a hit each. Pitching-wise for Pacific, Bansen went the distance allowing one earned run on five hits while recording a pair of K's.
With the losses, Corban falls to 2-5 on the season while Pacific improves to 2-0. The Warriors will return to the diamond on Saturday, February 23rd, when they take part in the Northwest Cup hosted by Concordia University against Whitworth College beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Delta Park in Portland.