EUGENE, Ore. – Fueled by four unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Corban softball team broke a 31-game losing streak on Saturday and claimed their first Cascade Collegiate Conference victory of the season, knocking off Bushnell University, 7-4.
 
The non-conference fourth game of the series was cancelled due to extended rain showers.
 
Emily Cole (7-12) threw another complete game for the Beacons, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings of work while striking out four.  
 
The junior looked to be out of a bases-loaded two-out jam in the top of the first inning, getting a ground-out to third-base. A misplay, however, scored a run and kept the inning alive. The next batter, Cambria Kerze, came up clutch as she split the gap in right-center field for a three-run triple.
 
Kerze padded the Corban lead with a two-run single in the fifth and after trading runs, Corban held a 7-1 advantage after five and a half innings.
 
Down to their final six outs, Bushnell made a charge, scoring a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Hannah Tennant. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Faith Wayman scored a run on a bases-loaded groundout and another run came around on an error, but it was too little, too late for the home team.
 
Amy Jankowski (1-1) got the victory for Corban in her first start of the season, allowing three earned runs on five hits in 6.1 innings while striking out four batters.
 
Cerze, who also made numerous web-gem plays at shortstop, finished her day batting 2-for-3 the five RBI. Samantha Martinez added two hits from the leadoff spot.
 
Ericka Allen connected for three of Bushnell's five hits, all singles.
 
The Beacons (11-27, 5-16 CCC) will hit the road next weekend, traveling to La Grande to take on first-place Eastern Oregon University. Corban (2-37, 1-20) stays on the road and will travel to Portland to take on Warner Pacific University.