Senior Emma Winckler hit two home runs in the season-opener against Menlo Thursday in Northern California, as Corban split an afternoon double header with the Lady Oaks.
Long Ball Helps and Hurts Corban Against Lady Oaks of Menlo
BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
ATHERTON, Calif. – A combined nine home runs in the season-opening double header by both teams spoke volume, as Corban's softball team split its first two games of the year against California Pacific Conference member Menlo, 9-8 in nine innings and 8-4, Thursday at Wunderlich Field.
Juniors Liane DeHart and Brittany Chestnut led the Warriors with a combined three hits each in the double header, while senior Emma Winkler belted two home runs to go along with a solo shots by junior Stephanie Nippert, junior Erica Fitzgerald, and freshman AmyLee Perrine. DeHart and Chestnut would also combine for five of the Warriors' seven stolen bases on the afternoon, while Nippert drove in a team-high four RBI over the two games.
In the circle, junior Amy Greenough started Game #1 going 4.1 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits before giving way to freshman Jessica Slate, who earned the first victory of her collegiate career going 4.2 innings allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits. In the finale, junior Chelsea Schriber went the opening 4.1 innings allowing seven runs (three earned) on four hits before Slate went the final 1.2 innings allowing one earned run on a pair of hits.
GAME #1 – CORBAN 9, MENLO 8 (9 INNINGS)
In the opening game of the 2012 season, Corban got on the board first when DeHart reached on a fielding error by Menlo's third baseman before stealing second and coming home on a single through the left side by sophomore Courtney Castronovo to give the visiting Warriors an early 1-0 lead.
Menlo would waste little time in answering the Warriors' first inning run, as the Lady Oaks' Emmeline Wang belted a two-run home run over the center field fence for the first four-bagger of her collegiate career that gave Menlo a one-run lead (2-1).
After two scoreless innings, Corban stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth and put three unearned runs on the board with junior Cynna Sandhop starting things off with a double down the left field line before stealing third and coming home on an errant throw by Menlo's catcher that knotted the game at 2-2. Four batters later, Corban had the bases loaded with one out and Nippert stepped to the plate and directed a ball down the right field line that allowed both senior Abbie Pynch and sophomore Lounette Jackson to score giving Corban a two-run lead (4-2).
In the top of the fifth inning, Winckler led off with her first home run of the season over the center field fence before Fitzgerald connected on a two-run bomb to center field two batters later giving Corban a five-run lead (7-2). Freshman Kyrianna Sorenson would close out the Warriors' scoring in the fifth when she laced a single to left field that allowed Pynch to score, while Sorenson was thrown out at second to end the inning when Corban up by six runs (8-2).
The bottom of the fifth inning would see Menlo begin to make a comeback, as the Lady Oaks put three runs on the board thanks to a RBI double down the right field line by Nicole Larson that scored Rachel Hammack. The very next batter – Wang – would plate Menlo's second run of the inning via a single that scored Amanda Vegas. Menlo would then load the bases with one out, as Jessica Soliai lifted a soft fly to right field that Chestnut dove and caught before Larson scored on the sacrifice fly. Unfortunately for Menlo, the runner on second base – Wang – was called out for leaving early shutting down any attempt that the Lady Oaks had of pulling closer than three runs (8-5).
One inning later, Menlo would knot the score at 8-8 when Vegas uncorked a three-run shot over the left field fence that Sandhop nearly ran down before crashing into the outfield fencing with the ball landing on the other side.
Neither team would score again in the seventh inning forcing extra frames. Menlo nearly ended the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Lady Oaks put runners on second and third with only one out. Fortunately for the Warriors, Slate would strike out the next two batters to keep the game alive.
In the top of the ninth, Winckler belted a two-out, solo home run over the center field fence for her second round-tripper of the game that would turn out to be the game-winning run as the Warriors shut down Menlo in the bottom of the inning for the hard-fought, one-run victory (9-8).
Winckler would lead the Warriors with a 2-for-5 performance that included a pair of home runs, while Nippert and Fitgerald both drove in a pair of runs.
GAME #2 – MENLO 8, CORBAN 4
In the finale, Corban would put four unanswered runs on the board over the opening three innings before Menlo's offense came alive with eight unanswered runs that included a pair of home runs for the come-from-behind victory.
Nippert would get the Warriors on the board in the top of the first inning, as she crushed a two-run home run off the left field foul pole for her first long ball of the season.
Two innings later, Perrine would get every piece of the ball as she launched the first home run of her collegiate career over the left field fence to also bring home Chestnut following her lead off single for a 4-0 Corban lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Menlo got all four runs back beginning with a unearned run before a two-run single up the middle by Larson pulled the Lady Oaks within a single run (4-3). The very next batter – Ululani Reyes – would tie the score at 4-4 thanks to a RBI ground out to short.
Menlo would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning when Raquel Savoy launched a lead off solo home run over the left field fence for her first long ball of the season that gave the Lady Oaks a one-run lead (5-4).
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Menlo put three more runs on the board when Cisneroz singled up the middle to bring home Wang and Reyes unleashed a two-run home run over the left field fence to cap the scoring at 8-4.
Chestnut would lead the Warriors with a 3-for-4 showing that included a pair of runs scored, while DeHart registered a pair of infield singles.
Corban, who moves to 1-1 on the season, will continue its weekend play in Northern California at the annual Simpson Tournament beginning tomorrow – Friday, February 10th – against Golden State Athletic Conference member Biola at 9:00 a.m. at Big League Dreams Field in Redding, California.