Season ends with losses to Cavaliers of Concordia
May 2, 2008
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Freshman Jennifer Kollaer pitched a combined 4.2 innings of relief, as Corban ended its season with a pair of losses to Concordia. (Photo courtesy of Mark Colachico, Corban Sports Information) |
PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite junior Karlee Sisler's (Corvallis, Ore.) team-leading seventh home run of the season in the opener, Corban's softball team ended its season with a pair of conference losses, 13-5 & 10-2, to the conference rival Cavaliers of Concordia Friday at Delta Park.
With a chance to qualify for its first-ever regional tournament, the Warriors entered the Rose City knowing that a sweep of Concordia would get the fifth-year program closer to its goal. Unfortunately, Corban ran into the third-ranked team in the region and watched as the host Cavaliers secured the regional tournament's No. 3-seed heading into next week's three-day event.
Game #1 – Concordia 13, Corban 5 (5 innings)
In the opener, Concordia got on the scoreboard with four runs in the first inning highlighted by Shayna Ostlund's two-run single through the left side that allowed both Rebekah Wirkkala and Casey Middagh to score.
In the top of the second inning, Corban put three runs on the board as Sisler began the scoring with a one-out home run down the left field line. Three batters later, junior Megan Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) stroked a single through the left side that allowed sophomore Jessica Pierce (Kennewick, Wash.) to score following her walk. The very next batter -- freshman Jessie Jones (Gladstone, Ore.) -- brought home the Warriors' final run of the inning, as she recorded a single up the middle that scored senior Jennifer Childers (Winston, Ore.) who reached via a hit by pitch.
In the bottom of the third inning, Concordia pushed its lead to four runs via a three-spot on the board. The Cavaliers' lone hit came off the bat of Samantha Daline, who stroked a two-out single down the left field line that scored Middagh after she reached via a pass ball by the Warriors' catcher.
Corban scored its final two runs of the opener in the top of the fourth inning, as Childers opened the frame by reaching via an error by the Cavaliers' third baseman. Two batters later, Childers scored via another error by CU's third baseman before sophomore Siriana Guest (Salem, Ore.), who reached via a single through the left side, scored when senior Lindsay Batey (Aloha, Ore.) reached via an error by Concordia's shortstop to cap the Warriors' scoring.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Concordia scored six runs on four hits to end the game via the eight-run mercy rule. Denise Benedict began the Cavaliers' scoring with a one-run single to short before Janelle Cristifaro registered a one-run double to left field following a pair of unearned runs. Ostlund then singled to right center to put Concordia up by seven runs (12-5) before Kari Mabe ended the game with a bases loaded single to center field that ended the game with one out and three runners on base.
Offensively, Jones and Gaylord each collected a pair of hits to go along with Sisler, Pierce, and Guest who tallied a hit each in the opener. Junior Erin Sailors (Anchorage, Alaska) went the opening 2.2 innings in the circle, allowing seven runs (three earned) on five hits before leaving with an injury. Freshman Jennifer Kollaer (Albany, Ore.) relieved Sailors for the final 1.2 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits.
For Concordia, Ostlund went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI to lead the Cavalier bats. Meanwhile, three other Cavaliers recorded two hits each to go along with a trio of other Concordia players that registered a hit each. In the circle, Danielle Pulfrey went the distance allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits to go along with a game-high 10 strikeouts.
Game #2 - Concordia 10, Corban 2 (5 innings)
In the night cap, Corban began the scoring in the top of the first inning when Sisler registered a one-out ground out to third that allowed Jones to score from third following her game-opening infield single back to the pitcher.
In the bottom half of the inning, Concordia put six runs on the board via a pair of hits highlighted by Daline's three-run home run to left field for her second round-tripper of the season.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fourth inning when Concordia put four runs on the board via a pair of hits. The Cavaliers' highlight came off the bat of Cristifaro, who registered a three-run home run to right center for her first four-bagger of the season.
Trailing by nine runs heading into the top of the fifth inning, Corban pulled within eight runs when sophomore Josie Strange (Chehalis, Wash.) belted her second home run of the season via a two-out solo blast to left center. Knowing that another run would extend the game, Corban got runners on first and second via back-to-back singles by Sisler and Pierce. Unfortunately, the Warriors comeback was thwarted when Cristifaro got Childers to foul out to third base to end the game.
Six different Warriors -- Jones, Strange, Sisler, Pierce, sophomore Kacie Emerick (Bellingham, Wash.), and Gaylord -- each registered hits en route to leading Corban's offense. In the circle, Sisler went the opening inning allowing six runs (two earned) on a pair of hits before giving way to Kollaer for the final 3.0 innings. Kollaer allowed four unearned runs on four hits over that span to go along with one strikeout.
The Cavalier offense was led by six different players that registered a hit each, while Cristifaro helped her own pitching cause with a four-RBI performance. Cristifaro went the distance in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits to go along with a game-high three K's.
With the losses, Corban ends its season at 15-22 overall, 11-13 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Concordia improves to 21-14 overall, 16-8 in CCC action.
The Warriors ended their finest season since 2005, as the fourth best team in the conference and will look to return next year with all but two players from this season's roster.
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