Stephanie Nippert led a Warrior 14 hit attack with a 3-for-3 effort in 13-7 win over Concordia.
Six-Run First Inning Propels Corban Past Concordia in Conference Elimination Game
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Concordia opened up Cascade Conference softball tournament action with the game’s first run, but Corban used six runs in their bottom half and moved on to a 13-7 win, eliminating the Cavaliers from postseason play.
Corban will now face host Oregon Tech in a best 2-of-3 series beginning Friday at 3:30 p.m. The CCC champion receives the leagues automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala. beginning May 19th.
After trailing Concordia 1-0, the Warriors plated six runs in their bottom half, highlighted by a Erica Fitzgerald grand slam, to take a 6-1 advantage.
Concordia cut their deficit in half with two runs in the third to trail 6-3. Back-to-back singles from Sam Genskay and Ali Paz led off the inning, while Robin Gawlista singled to drive in Genskay, while an Amy Aicher fielder’s choice plated Paz.
Corban quickly answered with two runs in their next at bat, as Abbie Pynch singled to drive in Courtney Castronovo and Emma Winckler and push the Warriors out to an 8-3 lead.
Concordia continued to chip away, and with a single run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth trailed just 8-5.
Corban then exploded for five runs in the sixth to take a comfortable 13-6 lead. After the Warriors loaded the bases, Tamara Feb walked and Winckler singled to give Corban a 10-5 lead. Fitzgerald followed with a single, to record her fifth RBI of the game, while Lounette Jackson added a single and RBI and Pynch drove in the last two runs of the inning on her second hit of the game.
Concordia would manage a single run in the seventh, but that would be it for the Cavaliers, as Corban would eliminate Concordia and move on to the CCC championship series with the 13-7 victory.
Corban’s Stephanie Nippert, recently named the CCC Player of the Year, led the Warrior 14 hits barrage with a 3-for-3 effort and drove in a run. Fitzgerald added a RBI single to go with her grand slam to record five RBI in the win. Winckler, Feb and Pynch finished with two hits each.
Cameron Way and Aicher finished with two hits and two RBI for the Cavaliers in the loss. Kayla Vickaryous, Genskay and Paz also recorded two hits for CU.