LINCOLN, Calif. – Competing for the first time since March 11, the No. 23-ranked Corban University softball team made its long-awaited return to the diamond on Friday. Battling Arizona Christian University at Wilson Field in Lincoln, Calif., the Warriors appeared to be in midseason form in the opener, claiming a 4-3 victory. Miscues proved costly in the latter contest, however, as the Firestorm rode a four-run first to a 5-1 victory in game two.
Offense was sparse in the early stages of game one, as an RBI double from Elsy Guzman was the only scoring of the first three innings. That gave Arizona Christian University a 1-0 lead, which Bibi Acosta then added to with an RBI single in the fourth.
The Warrior offense showed life in the bottom half of the frame, however, grabbing that run back when Kaylee Buhrkuhl scored on a wild pitch from Helen Hayes.
It was a pivotal bottom of the fifth that proved to be the difference, however, as the Warrior offense erupted for three runs to storm in front. It was a trio of usual suspects who fueled the rally, as Madison Wyllie knotted the game up with an RBI double, Makiah Johnson promptly followed that up with a run-scoring two-bagger of her own, and Buhrkuhl added some valuable insurance with a two-out RBI triple.
The Firestorm mounted a comeback, scratching across a run in the sixth, but Kaylee Brown was able to hold onto the lead and earn the victory in the circle.
In game two, Arizona Christian stormed out of the gates, plating four runs in the bottom of the first. Blunders hampered the Navy and Gold, as the first run scored via a wild pitch, and a Warrior error later in the stanza would aid the streaky Firestorm bats.
Corban chipped away at the lead in the fourth, when a perfectly placed bunt from Buhrkuhl led to the first run of the game for the Navy and Gold. That would be the only scoring the squad could muster, however, as ACU senior Taylor Roberts was exceptional in the circle, striking out seven in a complete-game performance.
Buhrkuhl spearheaded Corban's offensive efforts in the defeat, collecting a pair of knocks (2-for-3) to cap off a 4-for-6 day overall.
The Warriors (1-1) will now travel to Redding, Calif. to take on (RV) Simpson University in a four-game set on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for tomorrow's games are slated for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
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