Corban's nationally-ranked softball team extended its winning streak to three games with a double header sweep of Simpson Wednesday on Warrior Field in Salem.
Corban Sweeps Simpson in Afternoon Games
BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
SALEM, Ore. – Junior Rachel Conard and sophomore Lounette Jackson collected four hits each, as Corban's No. 23-ranked softball team swept a mid-week double header against California Pacific Conference member Simpson, 4-1 & 7-1, Wednesday at Warrior Field.
With today's victories, Corban extends its winning streak to three games improving to 14-3 overall. Simpson, who began its four-game Oregon road trip today, falls to 10-18 on the season.
Conard went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and was hit by a pair of pitches, while Jackson was a combined 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, and her fourth home run of the season in the finale. Junior Stephanie Nippert also aided in the offense with a combined 3-for-7 performance that included three runs scored and two runs batted in, while senior Emma Winckler, senior Abbie Pynch, and junior Erica Fitzgerald also tallied two hits each on the afternoon.
GAME #1 – CORBAN 4, SIMPSON 1
In the opener, neither team scored until the bottom of the fourth inning when Winckler belted her seventh home run of the season over the left field fence with one out to give the home Warriors a 1-0 lead.
Corban would put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Conard led off with a double to center field before giving way to freshman pinch runner Shelby Mauermann. One batter later, junior Brittany Chestnut traded places with Mauermann thanks to a run-scoring double to left center that pushed the Warriors' lead to two runs (2-0). Following a line out, Nippert singled to center field allowing Chestnut to score Corban's third run of the game. After Nippert stole second, Winckler drew a walk before Jackson sent a single up the middle that brought Nippert home for the Warriors' final run of the game that pushed Corban's lead to four runs (4-0).
In the top of the seventh inning, Simpson finally got on the board when Shaley Madruga registered a one-out single through the left side before she was replaced on the bath path by pinch-runner Katie Eiler. On a groundout, Eiler advanced to second before coming around to score on Morgan Davis' single to center field with two outs. Just after Eiler touched home, Davis was thrown out a second attempting to stretch her base hit into a double only to have Nippert connect with Fitzgerald on the game's final out that resulted in a 4-1 win for Corban.
Junior Amy Greenough went the distance for Corban allowing one earned run on five hits with a game-high five strikeouts, as the first-year Warrior improved to 5-1 on the season.
Simpson was led offensively by five different Redhawks, while Hayley Rodriguez went the distance in the circle allowing four earned runs on nine hits to go along with four K's.
GAME #2 – CORBAN 7, SIMPSON 1
In the finale, Corban would get on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Jackson launched a lead off home run over the right center field fence for an early 1-0 lead.
One inning later, Nippert would deposit the ball in almost the exact same spot as Jackson did for her team-leading 11th home run of the season as Corban grabbed a two-run lead (2-0).
In the top of the fourth inning, Simpson would cut the Warriors' lead in half when Brooke Quaife took the first pitch that she saw and launched it over the left center field fence that resulted in a 2-1 lead for the home team.
Corban would put five runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Nippert led off with a single to right field before coming around to score on Winckler's run-scoring double to right field for a 3-1 lead. After Jackson registered Corban's third straight hit to open the inning, Fitzgerald belted her fourth home run of the season over the right field fence for a five-run advantage for the Warriors (6-1). After Corban's first six batters reached base safely, Conard and sophomore Courtney Castronovo advanced to second and third base, respectively, on a pass ball before Conard came home on a sacrifice fly in foul territory by Pynch that extended Corban's lead to six runs (7-1) for the final difference.
Freshman Jessica Slate went the distance for Corban allowing one earned run on five hits en route to improving to 5-1 on the season.
Simpson was led at the plate by Davis and Quaife with two hits each, while Trinity Cuff went the opening 4.0 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with a game-high one strikeout. Davis and Chelsea Espinosa each pitched an inning in relief for the Redhawks, as the duo combined to pitch a perfect fifth and sixth inning.
Corban will return to action tomorrow – Thursday, March 8th – in a single seven-inning game against NCAA Division III member Lewis & Clark beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.