Stephanie Nippert became the first player in NAIA history to hit 78 career home runs, as she blasted a pair of solo round-trippers in Corban's sweep over Northwest Saturday on Warrior Field in Salem.
Nippert Belts Home Run 77 & 78 in Pair of Wins for Corban Against Northwest
BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
SALEM, Ore. – On a day when eight seniors were recognized after playing their final regular season games at home, No. 9-ranked Corban University rode the coat tails of its upperclassman sweeping the visiting Eagles of Northwest University, 8-5 & 8-2, Saturday on Warrior Field.
Corban (39-11, 24-4 CCC) was led offensively by Eric Fitzgerald with a combined 5-for-7 day that included three runs scored and six RBIs, while Stephanie Nippert moved in front of Central Baptist's Christen Kirchner as the NAIA's all-time leader in career home runs after belting Nos. 77 and 78 on a 3-for-5 afternoon that also included three runs scored and three RBIs. Along with Fitzgerald and Nippert, Rachel Conard and Liane DeHart collected a combined three hits each with Lounette Jackson and Shelby Mauermann adding two hits each on the afternoon.
Danielle Horne would get the start in Game #1 for Corban, as she allowed four runs (one earned) on two hits in 3.0 innings of work before turning the ball over to Amy Greenough. In 4.0 innings in the circle, Greenough allowed one earned run on five hits with a team-high four strikeouts en route to earning her 13th win of the season. In Game #2, Chelsea Schriber went the opening 4.0 innings allowing one earned run on three hits to go along with a game-high four strikeouts to earn her team-leading 16th win of the season before Samantha Gutwig allowed one unearned run in 3.0 innings of work to earn her first career save.
Northwest (7-35, 4-24 CCC) was led at the plate by Lauren Robinson with four hits and two RBI, while Ricki Tacdol also had a combined two hits with a pair of RBIs.
Kelli Peckham would go the distance in the opener for Northwest, as she allowed eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits with a game-high six strikeouts. In Game #2, Vanessa Ahrendt pitched all 6.0 innings allowing eight earned runs on eight hits with one K.
GAME #1 — CORBAN 8, NORTHWEST 5
Saturday's opener would begin with a bang, as Nippert led off the bottom of the first inning when a solo home run over the left field fence for career home run No. 77 to tie her with CBC's Kirchner and gave the host Warriors an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, Northwest would tie the game at 1-1 thanks to a ground out RBI by Ashley Curtis that scored Tacdol after she reached base via an error one batter earlier.
Nippert would put the Warriors back in front in the bottom of the second inning when she lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Fitzgerald following her leadoff single down the left field line, as Corban grabbed a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Northwest would put three runs on the board on two hits with the highlight coming via a two-run single to right field by Tacdol before Sandra Cleveland drove in Kynzee Halcott on a fielder's choice to give the visiting Eagles a two-run lead (4-2).
Corban would cut its deficit to one run (4-3) in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a solo home run over the left field fence by Fitzgerald.
In the top of the fourth inning, Northwest would regain its two-run lead (5-3) thanks to a RBI single back to the pitcher by Robinson that scored Amanda Matthews for the Eagles' final run of the game.
After being held scoreless for two straight innings, Corban erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on five hits with DeHart and Nippert scoring runs on a fielding error and wild pitch that tied the game at 5-5. A double by Conard to left field brought home Mauermann with the eventual game-winning run, as Fitzgerald and Sorensen closed out the game's scoring with a RBI single and sacrifice fly that put the host Warriors ahead by the final difference of three runs (8-5).
Fitzgerald led the Warriors' bat-attack with three hits, while Nippert, Conard, and DeHart each added two hits to go along with a pair of RBIs each by Nippert and Fitzgerald.
Northwest was led offensively by Robinson with two hits, while Tacdol drove in two of the Eagles' five runs.
GAME #2 — CORBAN 8, NORTHWEST 2
The regular season finale would also begin with a bang, as Fitzgerald belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning immediately following a RBI single by Jackson that put the host Warriors ahead by four runs (4-0).
In the bottom of the second inning, Nippert would make history thanks to a two-out solo home run over the right field fence for career No. 78 to pass Kircher for the lead for now. Nippert's second round-tripper of the day gave Corban a five-run advantage (5-0).
Northwest would answer back with a single run in the top of the third inning, as Robinson ripped a single up the middle that allowed Ahrendt to score cutting the Eagles' deficit to four runs (5-1).
In the bottom of the third inning, Fitzgerald would single up the middle before Sorensen brought home Jackson right after on a sacrifice fly making the score 7-1 in favor of the home team.
Northwest would score its second and final run of the day in the top of the fifth inning when Cleveland was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Amy Timm, as the Eagles pulled within five runs (7-2).
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Conard would leadoff with a solo home run over the right center field fence to cap the scoring as Corban pushed its lead to six runs (8-2) and held on for its 39th victory of the season.
Fitzgerald and Jackson would collect two hits each, while Fitzgerald drove in a game-high four runs for the Warriors.
Northwest would get another two hits from Robinson, while Cleveland and Robinson were the only Eagles to drive in runs in Game #2.
Corban will now turn its focus on the Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Championships that begin on Thursday, May 2nd, when the top-seeded Warriors host No. 4-seed The College of Idaho beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.