Corban sweeps T-Birds in double header

2/18/2011 1:31:37 AM

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Despite playing 40 miles away from Warrior Field, Corban's softball team officially opened its home schedule with a double header sweep of the visiting Thunderbirds of British Columbia, 8-2 & 7-6, Thursday at Hood View Park.

Due to the amount of rain that has fallen in the Willamette Valley over the past 48 hours, fourth-year head coach Nathan Ohta in conjunction with Corban's athletic administration decided to move Thursday's twin bill against the University of British Columbia to Hood View Park's all-surface turf fields in order to get the games completed as scheduled.

Sophomore Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.) led the Warriors' offense with a combined 2-for-6 performance that included her team-leading fourth home run of the season to go along with a team-high five runs batted in. Junior Abbie Pynch (Stayton, Ore.) and sophomore Erica Fitzgerald (Beaverton, Ore.) both turned in 3-for-7 showings at the plate with a combined three RBI, while senior Makenzie Marchbanks (Sweet Home, Ore.) earned her third victory of the season via a complete game performance in the opener before junior Emma Winckler (Eltopia, Wash.) picked up her first win this year in the night cap.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 8, BRITISH COLUMBIA 2

The host Warriors wasted no time in getting on the board in the opening game, as Corban scored four runs in the first innings thanks to a two-run double to right center by Nippert that scored Pynch and sophomore Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.). The very next batter – Winckler – would put the Warriors up by three runs (3-0) via a triple to right field that scored Nippert. One batter later, Winckler would come home with Corban's fourth run of the inning when she scored on a pass ball that put the Warriors up by four runs (4-0).

British Columbia would cut Corban's lead in half in the top of the second inning, as Molly Gosnell brought home the Thunderbirds' first run on a fielder's choice that allowed Courtney O'Connor to score. One batter later, Lindsay McElroy scored UBC's final run of the opening game scoring on a throwing error by Corban that made the score 4-2 in favor of the home team.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban tacked on another run via a run-scoring double to right center by freshman Lounette Jackson (Escalon, Calif.) that brought home fellow freshman Courtney Castronovo (Salem, Ore.) to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Warriors.

Corban's next at-bat would produce the game's final three runs, as Jackson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Pynch singled to right center to bring home sophomore Shauna Boudreaux (Donald, Ore.) and Fitzgerald for the final tally of 8-2.

In the circle, Marchbanks went the distance for Corban allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits to go along with a game-high tying three strikeouts.

British Columbia was led offensively by O'Connor's 1-for-2 performance, while Kelsey Andison went the opening 4.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits before turning the ball over to Leigh Della Siega for the final 2.0 innings.

GAME #2 – CORBAN 7, BRITISH COLUMBIA 6

In the night cap, British Columbia scored quickly in the top of the first thanks to a RBI single through the right side by O'Connor that brought home Tanya McLean for an early 1-0 T-bird lead.

Corban wasted no time in tying the game at 1-1 in its first at-bat, as DeHart drew a one out walk before stealing both second and third. Nippert would bring her fellow sophomore teammate home with a sacrifice fly to right field that knotted the score at 1-all.

In the bottom of the third inning, Nippert put the Warriors up by a run (2-1) via her fourth home run of the season over the left center field fence.

Clinging to its one-run lead, Corban came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored five runs on just one hit with four runs coming via either a walk or hit by pitch. DeHart, Nippert, and Castronovo would each draw bases loaded walks to go along with a hit-by-pitch RBI by sophomore Rachel Conard (Merlin, Ore.). Fitzgerald would be the only Warrior that would produce a run via a hit in the inning, as she brought home DeHart with a single to center field that made the score 6-1.

With a six-run lead (7-1), Corban would give one run back in the top of the sixth via a home run by O'Connor over the center field fence that made the score 7-2.

In its last at-bat, British Columbia nearly completed the come back with Carlyn Shimizu pulling the Thunderbirds within four runs (7-3) when she scored on a Warrior error. With two outs, O'Connor belted her second home run of the afternoon via a three-run shot over the center field fence that pulled UBC within a single run (7-6). Fortunately for the Warriors, British Columbia was unable to score the game-tying run as Corban snuck away with its fourth win of the season.

Nippert would lead the way for Corban with a 1-for-2 performance that included two runs scored and three RBI, while Winckler went the opening 5.0 innings allowing one unearned run on five hits before turning the ball over to junior Brittany Wagner (Oregon City, Ore.) for the final 2.0 innings. The junior right-hander would allow five runs (one earned) on two hits during her time in the circle.

For British Columbia, O'Connor was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and five runs batted in to go along with a two-pitcher performance by Nicole Day and Della Siega that combined to allow seven earned runs on four hits with 10 K's.

With today's results, Corban improves to 4-6 overall and British Columbia falls to an identical 4-6 on the season. The Warriors will return to action on Saturday, February 19th, at the annual Northwest Cup hosted by Concordia-Portland against NCAA Division III member Whitman beginning at 9:00 a.m. before concluding the day against British Columbia at 11:00 a.m. Both games will be single seven-inning contests at Hood View Park in Clackamas.

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