Click the 'Play Button' for video highlights. Maddy Melton made the catch of the year for the Warriors in the win. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
REDDING, Calif. – For the third time in three days, the Corban University softball team upended No. 6-ranked Simpson University (Calif.), this time coming from behind late in the game to down the Red Hawks, 5-4. The victory keeps the Warriors' undefeated start to the year alive, as Corban now boasts a 9-0 record overall.
Click the 'Play Button' on the photo above for video highlights from the win.
"Today was a great opportunity for the team to learn to play and produce under pressure," said Corban head coach Abigail Farler. "We had different kids throughout the lineup step up to make things happen offensively. We had some incredible plays defensively as well that really gave us momentum."
The second game of the day against Simpson was cancelled due to the poor weather conditions.
Corban, riding the momentum from Saturday's three wins, jumped on the sixth-ranked Red Hawks early amidst the rainy and windy conditions, as Taylor Eilders smacked the first pitch of the game into the outfield for her first hit of the game. After Maddy Melton also reached via a single, Jessie Isham stepped up and delivered with a two-RBI double to left field to give the Navy and Gold the early advantage. Allie Mendez ripped an RBI single up the middle later in the inning to make it 3-0.
The Red Hawks responded by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first, and it would have been more had it not been for what may have been the catch of the year by Maddy Melton. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, a tailing fly ball was hit to right field, and Melton made the perfect break on the ball and finished with a full-extension diving catch to record the final out of the inning and keep Simpson off the board any further.
In the second frame, Simpson (10-4) did get two more runs across to take its first lead against Corban in the three times the two teams had played.
Corban showed its resiliency in the fourth inning when Isham came up clutch with an RBI double to tie the contest, and then in the fifth inning, Aubrene Blas played the role of the hero for the Warriors. With two outs and a runner on first base, Blas ripped a ball into the gap in right-center, scoring Ashlyn Englehorn on the play to give the Warriors the one-run lead.
That run proved to be the game-winner, as Sabrina Boyd came on in relief for the Warriors midway through the contest and shut the door on the Red Hawks, throwing four innings of shutout ball, dispersing three hits while allowing no runs on the way to earning her fourth win of the campaign.
"Sabrina stepped up in a relief role today," said Farler. "Again, it was an all-around team win."
At the plate, Eilders, Melton, Isham, Rodriguez, and Blas all tallied two hits apiece, with Isham totaling three RBI to lead the way for the Warriors.
Corban (9-0) returns to the diamond next weekend at the Cavalier Classic in Portland. The Warriors take on three NCAA Division II teams over the course of two days, playing Saint Martin's University (Wash.), Simon Fraser University (Canada), and Concordia University (Ore.). Click here for a complete look at the upcoming schedule.
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