Junior Erin Sailors registered 10-or-more strikeouts for the fourth time in her career and in the process raised her school record to 282 K's.
Corban's Sailors Ties School Record for K's in Loss to Oregon Tech
SALEM, Ore. – Junior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) tied her own school record for most strikeouts in a single game with 13 K's, but Corban's softball team dropped a pair of conference games with the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 8-1 & 8-1, Sunday at Warrior Field.
Playing its first conference game ever on a Sunday, Corban battled through spots of rain to go along with getting a mere seven combined hits offensively in the doubleheader.
Game #1 - Oregon Tech 8, Corban 1
In today's opener, the visiting Hustlin' Owls put a single run on the board in the first inning as pitcher Jenni Bittle singled to right field and then advanced to second when Katie King was walked. The very next batter -- Brittany Warren -- doubled to right center allowing Bittle to score the game's opening run from second.
Oregon Tech then proceeded to put a pair of runs on the board in each of the next three innings and took a 7-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning.
Knowing that a mere run would allow for the eight-run, mercy-rule to come into play, the visiting Hustlin' Owls notched their eighth run of the game when Sunceray Titus opened the inning with a walk before coming around to score on Bittle's RBI double to right center.
Corban put its first run on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning therefore disallowing the mercy-run rule to come into play. Freshman Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) reached safely via an error by OIT's pitcher before sophomore Josie Strange (Chehalis, Wash.) advanced everyone one base via an error by the Owls' third baseman. Senior Lindsay Batey (Aloha, Ore.) made it to first safely following Oregon Tech's third straight error this time by OIT's shortstop. Sophomore Siriana Guest (Salem, Ore.) stepped to the plate next for the Warriors and brought home Jones on a fielder's choice ground out for the home team's lone run of the opening game.
Offensively for the Warriors, Jones, junior Karlee Sisler (Corvallis, Ore.), and junior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) each recorded a hit for Corban. Meanwhile, Sisler went the distance in the circle for the Warriors allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits to go along with three strikeouts.
Oregon Tech was led by Warren, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs. Pitching-wise, Bittle went the distance for the Owls allowing one unearned run on three hits, while getting a game-high eight Warriors via the strikeout.
Game #2 - Oregon Tech 8, Corban 1
In the night cap, Oregon Tech put five runs on the board in the opening inning as the Hustlin' Owls were privy to three walks, three pass balls, and one error while registering a mere two hits.
Following an inning that saw all nine OIT batters come to the plate, Sailors settled down and allowed a mere run in the top of the second inning when Oregon Tech's Amber Sinicrope singled back to the mound via a bunt. After the base hit, Sinicrope stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored via another wild pitch.
In the process of all the run being scored by the visiting teams, Sailors recorded eight strikeouts through the first three innings.
Corban's lone run of the night cap came in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore Kacie Emerick (Bellingham, Wash.) led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. Senior Jennifer Childers (Winston, Ore.) then came to the plate and sent a fly ball to left field that Emerick tagged up on. With the throw barring down on her from left field, Emerick avoided the tag from OIT's catcher and score the Warriors' lone run of the finale.
OIT put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Sinicrope drove in two runners via a single to center field for the game's final runs.
Corban was led offensively by Guest, who went 2-for-3 at the plate to go along with Jones and Emerick who each recorded a hit on the afternoon. Sailors went the distance in the circle for the Warriors allowing eight runs (four earned) on six hits to go along with her game-high 13 strikeouts.
Oregon Tech was led by Sinicrope and Bittle, who each recorded a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs. In the circle, Keri Gesner went the distance for the Hustlin' Owls allowing one earned run on four hits to go along with her team-high 10 K's.
With the losses, Corban falls to 4-13 overall, 1-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech improves to 16-8 overall, 6-0 in CCC play. The Warriors will return to the diamond on Monday, March 31st, when Corban host the Red Raiders of Southern Oregon beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.