BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – Junior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run batted in and one run scored, but it was not enough as Corban's baseball team fell to cross town rival Willamette, 5-2, Tuesday afternoon at John Lewis Field.

Despite a first inning single by senior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.), the host Bearcats put two runs on the board in their half of the opening frame thanks to a RBI single to right center by Kyle Stalker before Mitchell Rowan brought in Willamette's final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field that made the score 2-0.

Over the next three innings, Corban was held to three hits combined before scoring its first run in the top of the fifth inning off a run-scoring double down the left field line by Warner that plated junior Cameron Meier (Salem, Ore.) and cut the deficit to one run (2-1).

Wasting no time, Willamette extended its lead back to two runs when Stalker cranked his eighth home run of the season via a shot over the center field wall that handed the host Bearcats a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Corban pulled back within a single run (3-2) when Warner recorded a two-out double to left field before sophomore Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) brought the Warriors' lead-off hitter home with a single to right field.

Following a Corban pitching change in the bottom of the eighth inning, Willamette's Stalker registered his second home run of the afternoon via a lead-off shot over the center field wall that handed the host Bearcats a 4-2 lead. Three batters later, David Tufo brought home Willamette's final run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored T.C. Lee for the final tally of 5-2.

Besides Warner's performance at the plate, six other Warriors – Winsor, Spicer, sophomore Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.), sophomore Taylor Stiles (Santa Maria, Calif.), sophomore Tony Salamone (Medford, Ore.), and Meier – registered one hit each.

Pitching-wise, sophomore Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) made his third start of the season going the opening 7.0 innings allowing three earned run on seven hits before turning the ball over to sophomore reliever Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.) for the game's final inning.

Willamette was led by Stalker's 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored and three RBI. Meanwhile, Scott Martin began the game on the hill for the Bearcats and went the opening 3.0 innings allowing three hits before a quartet of reliever combined for the game's final six innings. Jack McGee pitched the ninth inning en route to recording his second save of the season, while Martin earned his first victory in '09.

With the loss, Corban falls to 9-23 overall versus Willamette's win-loss record of 13-11. The Warriors are back in action on Friday, April 10th, against conference rival Concordia beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Warrior Field in Salem.