Iris Rodriguez (#6) blasted one of Corban's four home runs on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University softball team blasted three home runs in game one on Saturday, and then hit a grand slam in game two en route to sweeping Northwest University in five innings twice. After winning game one 11-2, the Warriors blasted their way past the Eagles in game two, 8-0.
“After dropping a couple of games to Northwest and UBC last month, I think the girls felt like they had something to prove,” said Corban head coach Nathan Ohta, “and they put together some convincing wins this weekend.”
In game one, Northwest scored one run and threatened to score more, but Warrior senior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) got out of a jam.
Warrior freshman right fielder Grace Utto-Galarneau (Lacey, Wash.) provided the answer for Corban in the second frame when she crushed a pitch over the left field wall, putting the Warriors up 2-1.
Corban eventually made it 6-1 in the third when sophomore catcher Chaleigh Kirkwood (Newport, Wash.) hit a triple to right field, scoring two Warrior runners.
The Eagles pulled one back in the third, but in the fourth, the Warriors put the contest away thanks to a pair of two-run homers from junior shortstop Iris Rodriguez (Warden, Wash.) and junior third baseman Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.).
Up 11-2 in the fifth, Warrior sophomore pitcher Sabrina Boyd (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) came in and closed the door on the Eagles, finishing off the five-inning win for Corban.
In the game-one win, Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore left fielder Maddy Melton (Salem, Ore.) also went 3-for-3, scoring two runs in the triumph.
Holsinger pitched well in her 13th win of the 2016 campaign, tossing four innings while allowing two runs, only one of which was earned. She also struck out five in the process.
In game two, Corban jumped on top early thanks to an RBI single from Sluder, putting the Warriors up 1-0 in the first. In the second frame, junior center fielder Taylor Eilders (Cameron Park, Calif.) hit a two-RBI double to right-center, extending Corban’s advantage to three, and then an inning later, Eilders came up to the dish with the bases loaded.
With the bases juiced, Eilders made the most of the opportunity, smashing a grand slam over the left field fence, making it a 7-0 ballgame.
Sluder then came up clutch in the fourth for the Warriors, banging an RBI single up the middle to score Rodriguez. Up 8-0 in the fifth, Warrior junior pitcher Allie Mendez (Stockton, Calif.) finished out the complete game, securing Corban’s fifth-straight victory.
Mendez actually had a perfect game going into the fifth frame, but she surrendered one hit, breaking up what would have been history.
“This was a big week for us in terms of playoff standing, and as far as building some momentum heading into the end of the regular season, the team really rose to the challenge,” said Ohta. “Our fans were great all week, and having good crowds here to support us always makes things a little more exciting.”
Eilders finished the contest 2-for-3 with six RBI, while Sluder finished the game-two win with three hits and two RBI. Additionally, junior outfielder Ashleigh Lynch (Ronan, Mont.) went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored.
For Northwest (9-23, 6-16 CCC), Savannah Rush tallied the team’s one hit in the game-two loss.
With the doubleheader sweep, Corban wins the season series over the Eagles, taking three out of the four games played between the two.
Corban (29-14, 13-7 CCC) returns to Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) action next weekend when it travels south for a big weekend with games against No. 19 Oregon Tech and No. 25 Southern Oregon. First pitch on Friday against Oregon Tech is set for 2 p.m. in Klamath Falls.