Steigleman’s walk-off home run earns split with Oregon Tech

April 19, 2006

BOX SCORES - GAME #1 | GAME #2

Freshman Erin Sailors picked up her 1st collegiate win thanks to 4.2 innings of near-flawless pitching and a season-high 10 strikeouts against the NAIA's No. 24-ranked Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Institute of Technology

SALEM, Ore. – Thanks to a 2-out walk-off home run by freshman Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) in the 7th inning of the night cap, Corban’s softball team earned a split with the NAIA’s No. 24-ranked Oregon Tech, 3-4 & 6-4, in conference action on Warrior Field.

Game #1 – Oregon Tech 4, Corban 3

Sophomore Caylin Goss (La Grande, Ore.) kick started Corban’s offense in the 1st inning of the opener and the hits kept on rolling, as the Warriors scored 3 runs on 5 hits to jump out to a quick lead on the nationally-ranked Owls of Oregon Tech.

Sophomore Lindsay Batey (Aloha, Ore.) registered an RBI single to left center that scored Goss, while senior Rachel Hiatt (Sublimity, Ore.) drove in the Warriors’ second run with a single to left center, scoring Batey from second.  Following a single up the middle by freshman Becca Shelamer (Central Point, Ore.), Steigleman raced from 1st to 3rd only to find that Hiatt was occupying the same base.  Fortunately for the Warriors in an attempt to pick Shelamer off at second, OIT’s shortstop bobbled the ball that allowed Hiatt to score.  OIT’s starting pitcher Jenni Bittle settled down after the run-scoring error and no-hit Corban until senior Monica Crumley (Gold Beach, Ore.) registered a one-out single to left center in the 7th inning.

Oregon Tech crawled back into the game in the 3rd inning via a throwing error by Corban’s catcher that allowed pinch runner LeAnn Norman to score from third following a stolen base.

In the 4th inning, Oregon Tech grabbed the lead for good with 3 runs on 3 hits.  Amanda Doherty belted her team-leading 9th home run of the season over the right center field fence, while Kristiann Kinsman and Megan Erner each drove in back-to-back runs.

Hiatt went the distance, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 10 hits, while striking out 3 Owl batters.  Bittle picked up her team-best 15th win for Oregon Tech, as she went the full 7.0 innings, allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, and struck out a game-high 8 Warrior hitters.

Game #2 – Corban 6, Oregon Tech 4

Freshman Rachel Steigleman blasted her 1st collegiate home run -- a 3-run game-winner over the left field fence -- with 2 outs in the 7th inning to cap Corban's come-from-behind victory over OIT (Photo by Charissa Hunter)

The night cap was a game to watch, as Corban put another 3 runs on the board in the 1st inning.  Following back-to-back singles by sophomore Megan Lamson (Medford, Ore.) and Batey, Hiatt laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners up a base.  Sophomore Laura Santie (Seattle, Wash.) was hit by a pitch and Corban scored its first run of the game via a wild pitch.  Steigleman then laced a double down the left field line that scored two runners and gave the Warriors an early 3-0 lead.

Oregon Tech tacked on a single run in the 2nd inning when Kindel Thompson scored following an error by Corban’s second baseman.

In the 3rd inning, the Hustlin’ Owls tacked on three more runs thanks to 4 hits.  Brittany Shlee singled through the right side, scoring Kelsi Haylett from second, while Thompson roped a 2-run triple into the right field corner that scored both Doherty and Lisa Erwert.  After OIT took the lead, head coach Tarrah Brown pulled starting pitcher Hiatt in favor of freshman Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska).  Making her first relief appearance in conference action, Sailors struck out the next two Owl hitters looking to end the threat.

In 4.2 innings of relief, Sailors no-hit the nationally-ranked Owls and fanned a game and season-high 10 batters in the process giving Corban a chance for the victory.

In the epic 7th inning, Lamson and Batey led off with back-to-back singles before Lamson was caught stealing.  Sailors then walked before Santie grounded into a fielder’s choice that put runners on second and third to set the stage for Steigleman’s heroics.  The 5-foot-6 freshman shortstop deposited the fourth pitch that she saw over the left field fence for her 1st collegiate home run to give Corban a 6-4 victory.

Hiatt pitched the first 2.1 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits before Sailors finished the game and picked up her 1st collegiate win thanks to Steigleman’s round-tripper.

OIT’s Megan Erner threw a complete game, allowing 6 runs (all earned) on 9 hits, while striking out 5 Corban batters.

On the afternoon, Steigleman went a combined 3-for-7 with 5 RBIs and 1 run scored, while Batey was 4-for-6 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.  Lamson collected 2 hits in the night cap and Crumley cracked a hit in each game.

Oregon Tech was led by Thompson, who went 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs, while Erner was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Corban is now 5-21 overall, 3-11 in conference, while Oregon Tech drops its first conference game of the season and find itself at 26-3 overall, 12-1 in CCC play.  The Warriors will be next in action on Friday, April 21st, when they host fellow conference member Concordia in a double header beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Delta Park in Portland.