HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference season officially got underway on Wednesday as the Beacons traveled to face Corban University for a neutral site double-header at Hood View Park. Corban, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA, claimed a pair of wins, 4-1 and 7-4.
 
Paige Griffith led the Beacons (4-16, 0-2 CCC) with two hits, including a seventh-inning leadoff single which broke up a no-hitter in game one. Kyndle DelCollo (pictured) was on base three times with two walks in game one and a single in game two.
 
The Warriors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and had built a 4-0 lead as Jessica Holsinger cruised along in the circle. Holsinger had nine strikeouts in the game and hadn't allowed a hit through the first six innings before Griffith opened the seventh with a single through the left side of the infield. After advancing to third, Griffith came home to score on a fielder's choice by Kelsey Hansen as NCU avoided the shutout.
 
Janieve Boyles (1-4) pitched a complete game for the Beacons, striking out one batter and allowing four earned runs on eight hits. Holsinger improved to 7-3 with the win.
 
In game two it was the Beacons who jumped out to the early lead when senior Parker Fritter hit her 26th career home run, giving NCU the 1-0 advantage in the second inning. Corban answered with a blast from freshman Grace Utto-Galarneau in the bottom of the second.
 
NCU added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Kiara Vasquez brought home a run with a bases-loaded walk and Taylor Medley followed with a two-RBI single.
 
Unfortunately, Corban rallied with two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth to claim the victory.
 
Allie Mendez (5-3) got the victory in relief for Corban, allowing one run on three hits over three innings. Breanne Johnson (1-5) took the loss for NCU, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits and striking out two batters in a complete-game effort.
 
Northwest Christian will return to the field this weekend, traveling to face The University of British Columbia on Friday and Northwest University on Saturday in a pair of conference twin-bills.