Jessica Holsinger had a pair of saves for the Warriors.
Nice Homecoming as Warriors Sweep Softball Doubleheader
SALEM – Playing on their home field for the first time this season, the Corban Warriors swept a Cascade Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader from the Northwest Eagles, 7-3 and 6-3, on Friday afternoon.
With the wins the Warriors improve to 15-9 overall and 2-4 in the conference. Northwest is now 1-11 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
CORBAN 7, NORTHWEST 3 (
Box Score)
The hosts collected 11 hits, including a triple and two doubles by Kyrianna Sorensen, in picking up the victory. Danielle Horne picked up the win in the circle, striking out four while allowing three runs on seven in five innings of work. Jessica Holsinger entered the game with a run in and two on in the top of the sixth and ended up getting her first save of the season. She allowed no runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a walk, a single by Courtney Castronovo, a wild pitch and a two-out, two-run single by pinch hitter McCayla Hoffman. They added another run in the third when Sorensen hit a triple to right field and then scored on a base hit by Breonna Bejaran.
The Eagles got on the board in the fifth when Holly Entus hit a two-out double and scored on a base hit by Katie Lewis, but Corban got two more in the bottom of the frame. Sorensen stroked a double and took third on a wild pitch, and with one out Taylor Eilders drew a walk. The duo then pulled a double steal with Sorensen tallying the fourth run of the game. Eilders then scored on a RBI single by Kylie Durre.
Horne got in trouble in the top of the sixth when Sarah Payne led off with a double and came home on a single by Kierston Perry. Ricki Tacdol followed with a base hit, bringing Holsinger on in relief. A bunt base hit by Lizzy Reimer brought in another run, pulling the Eagles to within 5-3, before Holsinger got out of the inning.
Corban responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally started by Annie Owen's infield single. She scored on a double by Shelby Mauermann, and Sorensen followed with her second double to drive in Mauermann.
Payne and Perry both had a pair of hits to pace Northwest's nine-hit attack, while Sorensen collected three hits and Mauermann two to lead the Warriors.
CORBAN 6, NORTHWEST 3 (
Box Score)
Holsinger picked up her second save in as many games, pitching the final two innings in relief of winning pitcher Samantha Gutwig. Holsinger allowed just one hit and struck out one in two innings of work. Gutwig improved her record to 4-2, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits. She walked three and struck out five in five innings.
Owen and Castronovo were the hitting star for the Warriors. Owen was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Castronovo was 3-for-3 with two homers, two runs scored and three RBI.
Owen, the freshman centerfielder, led off the bottom of the first with a double and eventually scored on a wild pitch. On that same play, an error allowed Sorensen to come all the way around from first to score with a head-first slide. She was injured on the play and came out for an inning before re-entering and finishing the game.
Corban played add-on with single runs in the second and third innings. Castronovo took care of the run in the second with a line drive homer over the fence in left field, and Owen used her speed to good measure in the third, bunting for a single, moving up on a passed ball and fly out before scoring on Sorensen's single to left.
Northwest chipped away at the 4-0 deficit, scoring once in the fifth when Entus was hit by a pitch, moved up on a ground out and then scored when a bunt single was throw away at first base. The Eagles added two more in the sixth when Gutwig struggled finding the plate. She walked two before giving way to Holsinger, who promptly hit another batter. One run scored on a fielder's choice and another came in on a single by Alyssa Gonzalez before Holsinger got out of further trouble by coaxing a ground out and then getting a strikeout.
Now holding a slim 4-3 advantage, the Warriors got insurance from Castronovo who followed up a single by Eilders with a long home run to left field. It was the second round-tripper of the game and the fifth of the season for the senior outfielder.
Holsinger retired the side in order in the seventh to finish off the sweep.
"It really was nice to finally play a couple of games on our field. There's just something about playing at home in front of our fans that is special," Corban head coach Nathan Ohta said. "I thought our pitchers did an outstanding job today. Dani and Sam both gave us very solid outings, and Jess came in in a couple of tough spots and closed things down for us. Court and Kyrianna did a great job at the plate, but I thought as a team our girls did a great job of executing our game plan and taking advantage of the scoring opportunities we had."
Corban returns to conference action at 11 a.m. tomorrow when it hosts the Concordia Cavaliers at Warrior Field.