Jessica Holsinger threw six shutout innings in the game one win. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
WILSONVILLE, Ore. – Thanks to a magnificent performance from senior pitcher Jessica Holsinger (Eagle, Idaho) in game one, and a grand slam homerun from junior second baseman Aubrene Blas (Sparks, Nev.) in game two, the No. 17 Corban University softball team registered a twinbill sweep of Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) on Saturday at Wilsonville High School. The Warriors won game one, 6-0, and then defeated the Eagles in game two, 9-6.
“I thought the girls did a nice job today handling a couple of situations where Embry-Riddle threatened offensively, and kept the pressure on their defense throughout the course of the afternoon as well,” said Corban head coach Nathan Ohta. “When they created some opportunities to make the games interesting, our pitchers made big pitches and our defense came up with a couple of really big plays. On the flip side, I thought we executed really well when the opportunities presented themselves offensively.”
In the opener, Holsinger took control of the game early on and never looked back, maintaining command of the entire game. She ended up throwing six shutout innings in her third win of the campaign, allowing just three hits and striking out five in the process. Junior pitcher Allie Mendez (Stockton, Calif.) came in and closed the door in the seventh frame on the Eagles, sitting them down 1-2-3 to seal the 6-0 triumph.
Junior center fielder Taylor Eilders (Cameron Park, Calif.) led the way for the Warriors at the dish in the game-one win, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Mendez registered two hits and a team-best two RBI. In addition, junior third baseman Raimee Sluder (Longview, Wash.) recorded two hits and one RBI for Corban.
In game two, Sluder gave the Warriors the early lead in the second frame via a solo shot over the center field fence. Embry Riddle bounced back with a pair of runs in the third inning, however, causing Corban to play from behind.
The Warrior bats really woke up in that third frame after falling behind, as junior shortstop Iris Rodriguez (Warden, Wash.) registered an RBI double to left-center, and then later in the frame, Blas came up to the dish with the bases juiced and two outs. On a 3-balls two-strike count, Blas blasted a grand slam over the left-field fence, capping off a six-run inning for the Navy and Gold to put Corban up 7-2. For Blas, it was her first homerun of the year and just her second hit.
Embry-Riddle immediately put a four-spot up on the board in the fourth frame, but a two-run homerun from Corban sophomore catcher Raina Reece (Salem, Ore.) gave Corban some breathing room in the bottom half of the frame.
Coming off the bench to earn a three-inning save for Corban was senior pitcher Emily Buhrkuhl (Stockton, Calif.), as she surrendered only one hit in the three innings, facing just 10 batters. Sophomore pitcher Sabrina Boyd (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) earned the win, going four innings while allowing six runs, only three of which were earned. She also struck out five in the win.
“Even though the games were close early, we didn’t try to get it all with one swing,” said Ohta. “The girls stuck to their approaches, strung some hits together, and then used the long ball to break things open. It was a good team effort today and a good step forward as we get close to conference play.”
At the plate, Reece totaled two hits and three RBI for Corban, while Rodriguez and Blas were the other two Warriors to tally a pair of hits in game two. As a team, Corban recorded 11 total hits to just eight for the Eagles.
Corban (8-4) returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Embry-Riddle (2-13) at Wilsonville HS once again. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.