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The Corsairs continued their preparation for the upcoming Golden Valley Conference schedule with a softball doubleheader against Cabrillo at the Bear River field on Saturday.

And despite dropping both games — 14-7 and 9-8 — head coach Megan Valente has plenty to feel optimistic about as the CR bats begin to make some noise.

Former Hoopa Warrior Diamond Bibancos-Knight had a particularly impressive day at the plate, hitting her first collegiate home run in game one and finishing 5-for-7 on the day.

Bibancos-Knight, one of four former Hoopa Warriors on this year’s team, also had a double and five RBIs and scored a pair of runs.

The freshman first baseman now leads the team with a .406 average.

“Our bats are coming alive and that is what is going to make us competitive during conference, when our one through nine are hitting the ball hard,” Valente said.

The Corsairs racked up 18 hits on the day, with Maeghan Hampton, Catlin Caughie and Allie Egbert each also impressing at the plate.

Hampton, a freshmen shortstop/outfielder from Eureka High, finished 3-for-7 on the day with a double, three stolen bases and five runs scored and she is also batting a team-best .406.

Caughie finished with a pair of hits in each game and scored three runs, while Egbert was 2-for-3 in game two with a walk, an RBI and a run.

The former McKinleyville Panther also had a solid day in the pitcher’s circle in game two, but, according to Valente, Egbert’s defense just couldn’t finish the game for her as Cabrillo battled back from an 8-6 deficit with three runs in the top of the sixth.

CR Athletics – Diamond Bibancos-Knight

“I knew our bats would wake up the more we play and they have and we are scoring runs,” the coach added. “As a team we need to work on our defense. We are giving up too many runs.”

The Corsairs committed nine errors on the day.

However, they showcased their team speed with eight stolen bases over the two games.

And, most important of all, despite a 1-10 record a young roster continues to make strides.

“This team has grown so much since our first game this season,” Valente said. “It might not show with our record, but once we fix a few things on defense we will be a force in the GVC.”

Ashley Pierce added two hits, a walk, a run and an RBI in game two.

The head coach also praised the home crowd in what was just the team’s second home games of the season.

“We had a great crowd that we want to thank because we heard them cheering us on all day,” she said.

The Corsairs will hit the road again this week, playing three make-up games.

They play a doubleheader at West Valley on Thursday and a single game at San Mateo on Friday.

After a quick turnaround, the Corsairs will be back home on Saturday when they host Chabot in a doubleheader, before opening conference play next week.