CCC Softball: Corban Splits Doubleheader with Oregon Tech

In the night cap, freshman Kacie Emerick led the Warriors' offensive attack with a 2-for-3 performance.

Jennifer Childers Photo: Corban Athletics

SALEM - Junior Jennifer Childers hit a game-winning, walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Corban's softball team upset the NAIA's No. 13-ranked Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 2-7 & 9-8, for the second straight season in identical fashion.

Last season, then-freshman Rachel Steigleman upset then-No. 24-ranked Oregon Tech, 6-4, with a walk-off two-run home run to left field.

In yesterday's game, after scoring five runs (three unearned) to take a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Corban allowed Oregon Tech to score six runs in the top of the sixth.

After getting the Hustlin' Owls 1-2-3 in the seventh inning, Corban came to bat with its 2-3-4 hitters coming to the plate.

Freshman Jessica Pierce opened the inning with a walk before being forced out on a questionable double play.

The very next batter -- junior Lindsay Batey -- was given a free pass via her third walk in the finale, which set up the stage for Childers.

In capping a combined 2-for-6 afternoon, Childers promptly ended the night cap with a blast to straight away center field for her third home run of the season.

Sophomore Erin Sailors appeared in relief and went 1.2 innings of scoreless ball en route to picking up her team-leading 4th victory of the season.

In the night cap, freshman Kacie Emerick led the Warriors' offensive attack with a 2-for-3 performance, including a run scored and one RBI.

Four other Corban players -- Steigleman, Pierce, Childers, and freshman Nicole Leupitz -- each collected a hit off Oregon Tech pitching, as Batey scored a game-high 3 runs.

In the opener, Oregon Tech put a pair of runs on the board in the opening inning before Batey connected on her team-leading 9th home run of the season -- a solo shot to center field -- to lead off the second inning.

In the second frame, Corban tied the game at 2-all thanks to four hits, including a RBI single by junior Megan Lamson that allowed Childers to score from third.

Unfortunately, Oregon Tech scored single runs in both the 3rd and 5th innings before putting three unearned runs on the board in the sixth inning for the final tally.

Pierce led Corban's bats with a 2-for-3 performance in the opener, as five other Warriors -- Steigleman, freshman Siriana Guest, Batey, Childers, and Lamson -- collected a hit each in Game #1.

Sailors went the distance for her team-leading 6th complete game of the season and registered a game-high six strikeouts to boost her team-high total to 108 K's.

On the afternoon, Pierce led all Corban hitters with three hits, while Steigleman, Childers, and Emerick each collected a pair of hits off Owl pitching.

For Oregon Tech, Jenni Bittle went a combined 3-for-7 with 4 RBIs and a run scored to lead all Owl hitters.

Kelsi Haylett, Bess Fagan, Kelsey Anhorn, Kindel Thompson, and Amanda Doherty all collected a combined two hits off Warrior pitching.

In the circle, Bittle went the entire way in the opener, as she allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits before suffering the loss in the night cap.

The right-hander relieved OIT starter Keri Gesner for the final 1.2 innings, but gave up the costly 2-out, 2-run walk-off home run to Childers for her 6th loss of the season.

With the double header split, Corban now finds themselves at 7-31-1 overall, 4-14 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech is now 28-7-1 overall, 8-5 in CCC play.

The Warriors will take a mini-break from conference play when they host future CCC member Northwest Christian on Friday, in an afternoon twin bill on Warrior Field beginning at 2:00 PM.

NOTE: Friday will be "Professor Appreciation Day" at Warrior Field, as many Corban players will be honoring their favorite professor from this school year with gifts and prizes.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports