Cavs, Corban Split, Remain Second, Third in CCC
BOX SCORES - GAME 1, GAME 2
PORTLAND, Ore.—Second and third in the CCC before the day, the Corban and Concordia softball teams split a pair of tight games on Friday.
Concordia took the first game 6-3 thanks to five runs between the fourth and fifth innings, while Corban came back to win the second game 3-2.
With the results, Concordia moved to 20-18 overall and 11-7 in the CCC, with Corban 27-10 overall and 13-7 in the CCC. The results also kept Corban and Concordia second and third, respectively, in the CCC, as Oregon Tech and The College of Idaho, the teams above and below them in the standings, both held steady on Friday as well.
Both teams will play road doubleheaders against Northwest Christian for their next games, with Corban playing the Beacons tomorrow, April 21 at 11 a.m., while the Cavs play the Beacons on Tuesday, April 24 at 2 p.m.
GAME 1—CONCORDIA 6, CORBAN 3
Down 3-1 after a Corban rally in the fourth, Concordia immediately responded with five-unanswered runs between the fourth and fifth innings.
Tobey Varney started the CU rally in the fourth, sending an infield single to second, before moving all the way over to third on a one-out double from Kate Santos. Santos’ double continued what had already been a good day for her, as she had opened the scoring in the second with a solo home run to left. Laura Luther then followed Santos at the plate and sent an RBI ground out to second that scored Varney. Varney’s run cut the Warriors’ lead to 3-2, while Jordyn Brown tied the game with a single up the middle to score Santos during the next CU at bat.
Now even at 3-3, the Cavs continued the rally, as back-to-back singles from Mary Lugar and Jenny Lutton loaded the bases for Concordia. The Cavs then capped their rally with a bit of luck in the field, as a muffed grounder from Corban allowed Brown to score from third and put the Cavs up 4-3.
Concordia did not stop there either, plating two more runners in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-3. Varney started the rally for the Cavs once again, this time sending a leadoff double to left center. Varney moved to third on a passed ball during the next at bat, while Kate Santos followed with a one-out walk to put runners on the corners. Concordia then got a bit lucky again, as another muffed grounder during Luther’s at bat allowed Varney to score and put runners on first and second with still only one out. Finally, Mary Luger provided the last run of the game for the Cavs, as she sent a two-out single up the middle that scored Santos from second.
Corban managed just one base runner after that, as CU starter Ashley Suter wrapped up a three-run, complete-game performance to earn the win.
Corban had worked the count well against Suter—drawing eight walks in the game—but left 13 runners stranded.
Missed opportunities especially hurt the Warriors in the early innings of the game, as Corban left the bases loaded in both the first and second, while stranding two more in the third.
However, Corban finally broke through with three runs in the fourth. The Warriors had loaded the bases with one out in the fourth when Rachel Conard doubled down the right-field line to produce the first two runs for the Warriors. Emma Winckler then followed with a sacrifice fly two batters later, bringing the Warriors’ third run across in the inning.
Overall, Varney, Santos and Lugar all finished with two hits in the game, while Santos finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored, one RBI and a walk. On the flip side, Brittany Chestnut went 2-for-4 for the Warriors, while Conard went 2-for-3.
GAME 2—CORBAN 3, CONCORDIA 2
Corban bounced back in the second game though, while Concordia couldn’t find timely hitting for a potential threat in the sixth.
Corban led 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, but Concordia loaded the bases with only one out to give themselves a good chance for at least a tie. However, Corban came home for the second out of the inning during the next CU at bat, then induced a fly ball to left to end Concordia’s chances in the sixth.
Corban had opened the scoring in the first with a similar situation too, as the Warriors loaded the bases with only one out. Concordia even had a play at the plate for the second out as well, but the Cavs’ catcher missed the plate with her foot, allowing the first run to score. Fortunately, the Cavs got the out at first on the play, and followed that with another ground out during the next at bat to get out of the jam only one run down.
The Cavs then evened the game with a run in the third, as Sam Genskay scored on an RBI ground out from Kyndell Andrews after Genskay had moved to third on a one-out single to right from Tobey Varney.
Unfortunately for the Cavs though, Corban came right back with a run in the top of the fourth. The run was the second unearned run of the game too, as the Cavs could have gotten the runner out at second, but for another missed bag on a potential force out.
Corban then added their final run in the fifth when Rachel Conard hit a one-out, solo home run over the wall in left-center field.
Concordia immediately responded to then run though, with Genskay sending a one-out double over the right-fielder’s head to start a rally for the Cavs in the bottom of the fifth. Genskay remained at second through the next two at bats, before a two-out single from Kate Santos brought Genskay home for the Cavs’ second run in the game.
Overall, Corban starter Chelsea Schriber picked up the win for the Warriors after going 5.1 innings, while giving up two runs on nine hits. Corban’s game one starter Amy Greenough, meanwhile, came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings of the game, earning the save, while giving up only one hit.
Offensively, Stephanie Nippert and Conard both had two hits in the game to lead the Warriors, while Genskay went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Cavs. Oddly, every Cavalier finished with a hit in the game, as the Cavs actually outhit Corban 10-7.