Shauna Collins connects for a grand slam in the sixth inning to lift the Owls to a 9-3 win over Corban. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Uses Long Ball to Open Series with 9-3 Win Over Corban
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Top-seeded Oregon Tech used three homeruns, including a grand slam off the bat of Shauna Collins, to earn a 9-3 win over three-seed Corban University in game 2 of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament this afternoon at the Softball Complex on the campus of Oregon Tech.
No. 7 ranked Oregon Tech now has the advantage in the best of 2-of-3 game series between the Owls and Corban, with Tech needing one win tomorrow to win the conference crown, while the Warriors need two victories to earn a CCC title and a berth to the NAIA National Tournament.
After setting Corban down in order in the first inning, Oregon Tech took a 1-0 lead in their first at bat. Shauna Collins led off with a double, and with two outs Kayde Schaefer singled to drive in the game’s first run.
The teams went scoreless until CU tied the game on a Stephanie Nippert homerun, 1-1, in the top of the fourth inning.
Tech, however, would strike back with a three runs in the bottom half of the fourth and jump up 4-1. Corban got the first two outs of the inning, but back-to-back walks would put runners on first and second. Melissa Logan worked the count to 3-2, eventually putting the home team up 4-1 after driving the next pitch over the fence in right center field.
Corban chipped away at the Tech lead, putting single runs up in the fifth and sixth innings to make it a 4-3 game.
Oregon Tech hurler, Taylor Schmidt, helped her cause with a solo blast to move the Owls up 5-3 in the sixth inning. Tech would eventually load the bases, while Shauna Collins put the game out of reach with a grand slam that put the Owls up 9-3.
Corban was unable to put together a rally in their last at bat, as the game ended by the same 9-3 score.
The two teams will continue the series beginning at noon on Saturday. The final game of the series, if needed, will begin 30 minutes after the end of the first contest.
Along with a homerun, Taylor Schmidt tied the Oregon Tech record for most wins in a season, moving to 25-4 in the circle with the victory. Shauna Collins finished with two hits, a double and homerun, to go with four RBI, while Melissa Logan drove in three runs on two hits and Kayde Schaefer added a RBI in the win.
For Corban, Emma Winckler finished 4-for-4 at the plate, while Abbie Pynch added two hits and a RBI. Lounette Jackson recorded two hits and Rachel Conrad a RBI, with Stephanie Nippert hitting her 23rd homerun of the year.