SALEM, Ore. – After a change of the original plan to play at Warrior Field this weekend, the Corban University softball team made the trek south to Klamath Falls, Ore., where they battled the Owls of Oregon Tech. Facing a worthy foe in the Owls, Corban was unable to snatch a victory from OIT on Saturday, losing 16-2 (5 innings) and 8-5 on the day.
"We continued to make adjustments throughout today's games," said head coach Rachel Martin. "Now we have to make those changes before it is necessary. I am proud of the ground covered by our outfield, and adjustments at the plate late in the game. I am looking forward to how we bounce back tomorrow."
The Warriors faced an offensive onslaught from the Owls in game one, as they allowed more than three runs in four the game's five innings.
Jensen Becker and Lexi Klum had 3-for-4 batting lines at the plate in the first game of the day. They each accounted for four RBI, which was half of the runs that OIT pushed across in the bout.
The Navy and Gold struggled to get anything going in the matchup, as they only managed two hits and two runs scored on offense.
Sarah Abramson obtained her eleventh victory on the campaign. She is undefeated, with an 11-0 pitching record.
Game two started in a similar fashion to the first battle of the day, as the Owls led 4-0 after three innings, but the Warriors put up a fight in this one. Corban rattled off five runs over the last four innings, but it was not enough to overcome a four-run sixth inning by OIT.
A 3-for-4 showing from McKenna Armantrout with four RBI paced the Owl attack with the sticks. Becker and Mackenzie Driscoll added two hits to the effort as well.
Corban's Taylor Beasley led the Navy and Gold late-inning surge with a 2-for-3 game. She was responsible for a round-tripper and two runs batted in.
McKenzie Staub earned her ninth victory of the year for the Owls as she, like Abramson, is undefeated on the campaign. Her 9-0 record totals the rest of OIT's victories on the year. Abramson and Staub have been the only two pitchers of record this season for Oregon Tech, as the team sports an amazing 20-0 record.
The Warriors (11-9, 6-2 CCC) face a tough test tomorrow. They will once again face the Owls twice on Sunday, hoping to salvage a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) victory. First pitch in Klamath Falls is set for 11 a.m.