CU's Cameron Way went 4-for-7 with three runs and seven RBI against Corban on Friday.
Camy Leads the Way for CU Sweep
BOX SCORE: GAME 1
BOX SCORE: GAME 2
PORTLAND, Ore.— Cameron Way hit a pair of two-run homers in the opener, including a walk-off bomb in the seventh to lead Concordia to a sweep against Corban College (5-4, 8-1) in Cascade Collegiate Conference softball action held at Delta Park on Friday afternoon.
With the results, Concordia improved to 13-1 on the season while Corban dropped to 8-15. The contests represented the season opener in conference play for both squads.
Corban was able to strike first in the opener as Erica Fitzgerald punched a two-out single down the left-field line to plate teammates Rebecca Franke and Stephanie Nippert after Franke got on board via a walk and Nippert pushing a single trough the middle to setup the RBI knock.
After getting a single run on base in the first two innings without avail, Concordia finally was able to answer in the third as Way belted a two-out three-run homer over the right-field fence to give the Cavs the lead.
The Warriors nearly manufactured the tying run in the fourth as Tamara Feb led off the frame with a double to deep left and was immediately moved to third on a successful sacrifice by Fitzgerald. With one out a Corban bunt was picked up by Way, who was crashing from first. Way tossed the ball to Tina Garcia, who was covering the base from second, for the force out. With Feb racing home, Garcia’s throw to the plate arrived just in time as CU catcher Courtney Wooden applied the tag to the sliding Feb for the third out of the inning.
Corban sprang to life again in the top of the seventh by loading the bases after having its first two at bats result in a strikeout. Jessica Pierce managed a walk while Liane DeHart reached on a bunt single. Another walk loaded the bases where Nippert drove the ball down the left-field line to score two and give the Warriors a 5-4 edge.
The momentum, however, would be short-lived as Way stepped to the plate in the home half of the seventh. Mallory Callahan reached on a walk to open the inning while Ali Paz followed with a fly out to left. Way, the CU clean-up hitter, connected on a drive reminiscent of her third-inning smash to end the contest for the team’s fourth walk-off win of the season.
Concordia outhit Corban 8-7 with Paz going 3-for-4 and Way 2-for-4 with five RBI. Nippert led the Warriors with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBI.
Renee Santos earned the win to improve to 6-0 on the season after striking out 13 in the seven-inning complete game.
In the second game, no such dramatics were needed as the Cavs pounced on the Warriors with a seven-run fourth inning to go up 8-1. Concordia sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning and registered eighth hits, all of which were singles from eight different players. Five different players notched at least one RBI with Kyndell Andrews and Tara Baglai each driving in a pair of runs.
Both teams scored a single run in the first with Corban’s Erica Fitzgerald singling to right to send Stephanie Nippert home from second after reaching on a walk and Way doubling to right to score Callahan, who also reached on a double for CU.
After the opening frame blemish, Concordia starter Danielle Pulfrey faced just one batter over the minimum the rest of the way; stringing together five perfect innings, including sending the Warrior offense down 1-2-3 in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Pulfrey allowed just two hits and struck out nine while issuing a pair of walks, both of which occurred in the first.
The Cavs outhit the Warriors 15-2 with six different batter recording multi-hit games. Way added two RBI in the game to give her seven on the day. Paz went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Concordia returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Northwest Christian at Delta Park. Opening pitch is set for 11 a.m.
Cameron Way went 4-for-7 with three runs and seven RBI against Corban on Friday.