Jordyn Kurtz used both her bat and arm in helping to sweep Corban and kept the Raiders in a tie for first place along with The College of Idaho.
Southern Oregon Sweeps Corban Thanks to Pair of Wins By Kurtz
SALEM, Ore. – Despite junior Rebecca Franke's (Pendleton, Ore.) team-leading seventh home run of the season in the opener, conference co-leading Southern Oregon took two games from Corban, 3-1 & 9-1 in six innings, behind a solid pitching performance by Jordyn Kurtz Friday at Warrior Field.
In the opener, Southern Oregon put the first runs on the score board when Kurtz registered a three-run double to center field that allowed the eventual game-winning run to score.
In the bottom of the second, Franke stroked one just over the right field fence to bring in Corban’s only run of the game and made the score 3-1 in favor of the visiting Raiders.
Neither team could crack the score board over the final five innings, as it became a pitcher's dual with both teams combining for two hits for the remainder of the game.
Southern Oregon opened game #2 much like the first scoring five runs on five hits with the highlight coming off the bat of Justine Cooper via a two-run single.
Sophomore Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) opened the Warriors' half of the first inning with a single through the left side before stealing second and moving to third on junior Jessica Schell's (Portland, Ore.) sacrifice bunt. Jones then scored the Warriors' lone run when SOU's catcher had an unsuccessful pick off at third that brought the score to 5-1.
Over the next four innings, Southern Oregon compiled a total of four more runs, the final one coming in the top of the sixth. The Raiders were able to hold the Warriors scoreless in their final at-bat, which resulted in an eight-run, mercy-rule win by the final score of 9-1.
Besides Jones and Franke’s combined two runs with two hits, freshman Ashley Strom (Salem, Ore.) and senior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) were the only other two Warriors to record hits on the day.
On the mound, senior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) went the distance in Game #1 allowing three earned runs on two hits to go along with a team-best four strikeouts. Freshman Twyla Baggarley (Hillsboro, Ore.) went the opening 4.0 innings in Game #2 allowing four earned runs on eight hits, before turning the ball over to fellow freshman Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) for the final 2.0 innings.
On the day, Southern Oregon was led by Kurtz's 1-for-3 performance with three RBI in the opener. Kurtz also picked up the victory in the circle, as she went the distance allowing one earned run on two hits to go along with a game-high four K's. In the finale, SOU's Danielle Stratton was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Meanwhile, Kurtz went the opening 4.0 innings allowing one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts before turning the ball over to Amy Selinger for the game's final 2.0 scoreless innings.
With today's results, Corban evens its win-loss record at 18-18 overall and 6-8 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Southern Oregonimproves to 15-12 overall and 11-3 in CCC action. The Warriors will return to the field on Saturday, April 18th, when they host the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Warrior Field.