CALDWELL, Idaho – An unearned run in the top of the eighth inning was the difference, as Corban University took a 2-1 decision over the College of Idaho in the rubber game of the Cascade Conference series at Symms Field as part of First Responders Day.
The No. 13 ranked Warriors (26-9, 15-4 CCC) won the non-conference second game, 9-1, and now sit alone atop the league standings with two weeks remaining in the season.
Prior to the doubleheader, members of the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriffs' Office, the Caldwell Fire Department and the C of I Campus Safety Office were honored in an on-field ceremony.
The opener was a pitchers' duel between the Yotes' (18-19, 8-13)
Colette Robert and the Warriors' Sabrina Boyd – as neither pitcher allowed a base runner to reach scoring position over the first six innings.
Corban struck first in the top of the seventh, as Jessie Isham blasted a solo homer over the centerfield wall for the 1-0 lead. C of I answered in the bottom of the inning, as
Trystin Crofts singled, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI triple from
Marissa Maddox. The Yotes had a chance to win – but a Robert smash was snared by Warriors shortstop Mahina Chong to end the threat.
In the eighth, Alyssa Doty singled and moved to second on a Maddy Melton ground out. Kaylee Buhrkuhl hit a grounder to short that should have been the second out, but a wild throw to first ended up in the Corban dugout, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
C of I threatened in the bottom of the inning, as
Kristin Paulazzo blooped a one-out single to right. Pinch-hitter
Martha Tooley skied out to the wall in left and Boyd coaxed a ground out to end the game.
Boyd allowed just five hits and fanned four for her league-best 15th win, while Robert was the tough-luck loser, striking out four – needing just 76 pitches in eight innings of work.
Game 2 was all Corban, as Buhrkukl opened the scoring with a first inning solo homer, with Isham blasting a grand slam in the third to extend the lead to 5-1. The Warriors added four runs in the fifth – including a two-run double by Megan Rybar to put the game out of reach.
Ally Crakes allowed a run on three hits – all C of I doubles – to earn the win, with Isham driving in five for the Warriors.
C of I returns to action next weekend with a four-game series at Northwest Christian.
