By Corban Sports Information

SALEM, Ore. - Junior Rachel Conard (Merlin, Ore.) drove in the game-winning runs via a two-run double in the opener and fellow junior Brittany Chestnut (Newport, Ore.) went a combined 3-for-8 at the plate with two runs scored, as Corban University's No. 23-ranked softball team split an afternoon double header with the NAIA's No. 19-ranked College of Idaho, 4-2 & 2-5, Friday at Warrior Field.

With today's result, Corban moves to 19-9 overall and 3-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, The College of Idaho goes to 24-10 overall and 7-7 in league games.

Along with Chestnut's three-hit performance in the two games, Conard collected a pair of hits and four other Warriors - senior Abbie Pynch (Stayton, Ore.), senior Emma Winckler (Eltopia, Wash.), junior Stephanie Nippert (Rocklin, Calif.), and sophomore Lounette Jackson (Escalon, Calif.) - had one base knock on the day.

GAME #1 - CORBAN 4, COLLEGE OF IDAHO 2

In the opener, The College of Idaho would get on the board first when Nickayla Skinner roped a RBI double that scored Molly Mills after she was hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the third inning. The visiting Coyotes would cling to a slim one-run lead at the points (1-0).

With a one-run lead in the top of the fourth inning, The College of Idaho loaded the bases with two out on a walk, single, and hit by pitch before Mills ripped a shot off of Corban junior pitcher Amy Greenough's (Portland, Ore.) ankle. Despite hobbling in pain, Greenough was able to field and throw out the runner keeping the host Warriors within striking distance.

Corban would answer in its next at-bat with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Nippert led off with her team-leading 14th home run of the season to left field that tied the game at 1-1. Three batters later, Jackson singled to left field to bring home freshman pinch runner Shelby Mauermann (Clackamas, Ore.) after she took over on the base path for Winckler to make the score 2-1 in favor of the home team.

In the top of the fifth inning, Skinner would put another run on the board for C of I as she crushed her fourth home run of the season over the center field fence to tie the score at 2-all.

With a tie game in the bottom of the fifth inning, Chestnut registered a one-out single before moving to second on a failed pickoff attempt and then moved to third on a dropped fly ball by C of I off the bat of junior Liane DeHart (Kent, Wash.). With runners on first and third, Nippert was intentionally walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout by C of I's Skinner, Conard ripped a two-run double to the base of the fence in left field allowing both Chestnut and DeHart to score giving Corban a 4-2 lead.

After a pitching change by Corban that brought in junior reliever Chelsea Schriber (Tillamook, Ore.), The College of Idaho was held to a mere one hit over its final two at-bats with no Coyote runner getting past first base in the Warriors' hard-fought two-run upset win.

Conard would lead Corban's offense with a 2-for-3 performance that included two RBI, while Greenough picked up the win going the opening 5.0 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Meanwhile, Scriber would pick up her first career save allowing a mere one hit over the final two innings.

Skinner was the leader for C of I both offensively and defensively, as she went 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI before going the distance in the circle allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits with a game-high 11 K's.

GAME #2 - COLLEGE OF IDAHO 5, CORBAN 2

In the finale, The College of Idaho grabbed a three-run lead (3-0) in the top of the third inning when Skinner belted a three-run home run to left field that scored Nikki Shumway and Mills following back-to-back singles.

Corban's bats would come alive in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Warriors were held hitless over the opening five innings. Pynch led off with a single to left field before an infield single by Chestnut put runners at first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by junior Chynna Sandhop (Wenatchee, Wash.) would move both runners up before Nippert was intentionally walked for the third time in the game to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Winckler drew a walk to put Corban on the board (3-1). The Warriors still had the bases loaded with only one out when C of I's Skinner got an automatic out via the infield fly rule before Jackson was hit by a pitch to bring in the Warriors' second run and pull Corban within a single run (3-2). Unfortunately, the host Warriors could not get any closer thanks to an inning-ending fielder's choice by C of I.

The College of Idaho would add two more runs in the top of the seventh inning when Alexis Macias ripped a two-run single down the left field line that scored Shumway and Kaci Baldwin for a three-run Coyote lead (5-2).

Skinner would shut down Corban's offense in the bottom of the seventh inning allowing an infield single to Chestnut before securing the win, 5-2.

Chestnut was the offensive juggernaut for Corban going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while freshman Jessica Slate (Aumsville, Ore.) went the opening 4.1 innings allowing three earned runs on five hits before Schriber went the final 2.2 innings in the circle for the Warriors.

Shumway collected two hits for The College of Idaho, while Skinner went 1-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and picked up her 12th win of the season in complete game fashion allowing two earned runs on three hits with a game-high eight strikeouts.

Corban will close out its hectic weekend tomorrow - Saturday, April 7th - against the Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon in a late-morning double header that begins at 11:00 a.m. on Warrior Field in Salem. After tomorrow's twin bill, the Warriors will have played six games in three days.