Corban Softball split with a pair of NCAA II squads on Saturday in Portland. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Corban softball team showed fight and grit on Saturday afternoon, as after suffering its first loss of the 2017 season in its first game of the day, the Warriors bounced back and registered a convincing win in the second contest, earning a split against a pair of NCAA Division II schools at the Cavalier Classic. The Warriors dropped the opener to Saint Martin's University, 10-3, but then bounced back and won the nightcap vs. Simon Fraser University, 8-2.
"We had a rough start to the day and made some mistakes we will learn from, but I'm really proud of how the girls bounced back and responded for game two," said Corban head coach Abigail Farler. "The response of the team in game two shows the character and the fight of the team this year. We continue to see opportunities in all aspects of the game where we can grow and improve, which is a positive and we are excited to come into conference play knowing our potential."
In the opener against NCAA DII foe, Saint Martin's, the Warriors surrendered three quick runs in the top of the first but responded with a pair of their own in the bottom half of the frame. The Saints tallied three more in the fifth, but Jessie Isham then stepped up and blasted a home run over the left-field fence to keep the game close.
Saint Martin's tacked on two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, however, resulting in the seven-run win for the Saints. In the defeat, Raimee Sluder tallied a team-best two hits.
In the second game of the day against another NCAA DII squad, Simon Fraser, Taylor Eilders got things going for the Warriors with a leadoff double. Iris Rodriguez then came up clutch with a two-out RBI single to left field to give Corban the early advantage. Not done in the inning yet, the Warriors eventually loaded the bases and Chaleigh Kirkwood delivered with a two-RBI single to left field, pushing the Warrior lead to 3-0.
In the second, both Isham and Rodriguez came through with RBI singles to make it a 5-0 ballgame, and while Simon Fraser pulled one back in the fourth, Rodriguez ripped another RBI single in the bottom half of the frame to push the advantage back to five runs.
The Warriors then put the game out of reach in the sixth when Isham added another RBI single, and Sluder got in on the action as well, recording an RBI single to seal the deal. Rodriguez finished 3-for-4 at the dish with three RBI, while both Isham and Maddy Melton tallied a pair of hits in the victory. As a whole, Corban totaled 13 hits in the non-conference triumph.
Sabrina Boyd was stellar for the Navy and Gold once again, tossing a complete game while giving up two runs, neither of which was earned. She dispersed seven hits over the course of the seven innings in her fifth win of the 2017 campaign.
Sunday's previously scheduled games of the Cavalier Classic have been cancelled due to heavy forecasted rain.
Corban (10-1) returns to the diamond next week when it heads north to take on the University of British Columbia on Friday and Saturday in Canada, opening up Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play in the process. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m.