BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

SALEM, Ore. – Despite a pair of losses to the NAIA's No. 7-ranked Thunderbirds of British Columbia, 12-4 & 9-0, Corban's baseball team honored four players that were stepping onto Warrior Field for the final time Saturday wearing the navy and gold.

Senior Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.), Russ Johnston (Independence, Ore.), and Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.) along with junior Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.) were honored in between games for their service to the Warrior baseball program.

Playing their final two home games in a Warrior uniform, Johnston and Spicer each collected a pair of hits on the afternoon that included a 2-for-5 showing in Game #1 from Johnston followed by a 2-for-3 performance by Spicer in the finale.

In today's opener, British Columbia scored three unanswered runs before Corban could get on the board with a single run in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) led off with a double to left center before coming home on a single down the right field line by fellow sophomore Tony Salamone (Medford, Ore.) that made the score 3-1 in UBC's favor.

Unfortunately, the visiting Thunderbirds scored eight more runs before the host Warriors struck for three runs over two innings near the end of the game.

In the seventh inning, sophomore Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) led off with a double down the left field line before coming home when Salamone drove in his second RBI of the early afternoon two batters later via a single through the left side that made the score 11-3 in favor of the visiting T-birds.

One inning later, sophomore Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) drew a one-out walk before coming home on a Winsor double to left field to bring home Corban's third run of Game #1. Sophomore Mitch Riddle (Pullman, Wash.) then singled through the right side to bring home Winsor for the Warriors' final run of the opener.

British Columbia capped the game's scoring in the ninth inning with a single run to make the final score 12-4 in the favor of the nationally-ranked Thunderbirds.

In the night cap, British Columbia score nine unanswered runs over the first four innings until the Warriors had a chance to score in the bottom of the fifth inning with the bases loaded.

Three straight singles by Hiebert, junior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.), and Schmidt loaded the bases with one out before Spicer grounded into a fielder's choice that got Hiebert at home. An inning-ending ground out halted the Warriors' threat and shut the door on any potential Corban comeback over the final two innings, as British Columbia headed back north with a 9-0 victory in the four-game finale.

Aside from Winsor's 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored and one RBI in Game #1, Spicer went a combined 3-for-7 at the plate to go along with Johnston's showing in today's opener.

On the mound, freshman Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.) went the opening 5.0 innings allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits before turning the ball over to sophomore reliever Chris Trammell (Salem, Ore.) for the final 4.0 innings of Game #1. In the nightcap, Winsor pitched the opening 4.0 innings allowing nine runs (six earned) on eight hits before Hiebert pitched the final 3.0 innings of Game #2.

British Columbia was led offensively by three players – Alex White, Nic Lendvoy, and Bob Foerster – as the trio combined to go 13-for-23 at the plate with six runs scored and nine RBI. Pitching-wise, UBC's Eric Brown went the opening 7.0 innings allowing two earned runs on eight hits before turning the ball over to Matt Bannister for the game's final 2.0 innings in today's opener. Game #2 saw Josh Brink pitch the opening 2.0 innings allowing just one hit before Dan Britton-Foster went 3.0 innings to pick up the win, while Shawn Hetherington went the final 2.0 innings for the visiting Thunderbirds.

With today's results, Corban is now 10-32 overall, 8-20 in NAIA West action. Meanwhile, British Columbia improves to 32-8 overall, 26-6 in NAIA West play. The Warriors will conclude the season next weekend in Caldwell, Idaho beginning on Friday, April 24th, with an afternoon double header against The College of Idaho beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Wolfe Field.