(Editor’s note: Carroll College athletics release)
ASHLAND, Ore. — The fifth-seeded Carroll College softball team fell 4-2 to No. 4-seed Corban in the first round of the Cascade Collegiate Conference postseason tournament on Friday morning.
“I thought it was a pretty clean game,” Saints coach Aaron Jackson said. “That’s how good this league this. You have to be perfect.”
The Saints (19-23) struck first and held their lead until the bottom of the second inning.
Carroll loaded the bases up instantly in the first inning. Ali Williams popped up to shortstop, which allowed Brooke Yarnall to make a daring run from third to home, beating out the tag to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.
Corban (35-12) put runners on in the second inning. Williams nearly worked her way out of trouble, having an inning-ending line drive ricochet off her glove. Corban scored on the play and tied the game at one. Williams struck out the final batter looking to get out of the inning.
“I thought we played good defense,” Jackson said. “We started a little slow at the plate.”
Corban found the deciding runs in the third inning. Sam Woodley hit a two-run homer and then Kaycee Arase hit a single to push the Warriors up 4-2.
“They got a ball out of the ballpark and we didn’t,” Jackson said. “I thought overall I was pleased with how we competed. We fought. I think it bodes well for us going into tomorrow. We’re close. (Saturday) is going to be a great day to get a win.”
Carroll got a run back in the sixth inning when a wild pitch allowed for TJ Rucker to score.
The Saints couldn’t summon one final surge to get back in it.
Kendall Mooney (2-for-4) and Natalie Gaber (2-for-3) led the Saints with two hits each.
The Saints will face a yet to be determined opponent on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
