BOX SCORE

NEWBERG, Ore. – Freshman Marc Labarthe (Salem, Ore.) belted his first career home run to lead off the ninth inning and went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI, but it was not enough as Corban's baseball team fell to NCAA Division III member George Fox, 10-7, Wednesday afternoon at Morse Field.

With today's result, Corban drops it 11th straight game and falls to 6-15 overall. Meanwhile, George Fox improves to 10-8 on its season.

Labarthe was aided offensively by fellow freshman Craig Baker (Meridian, Idaho) and junior Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.), as Baker went 3-for-4 with one run scored and Hiebert was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Sophomore Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) drove in a game-high tying three runs, while seven Warrior pitchers combined for the complete game performance.

Freshman Jake Balbas (Meridian, Idaho) would get the start for Corban pitching the opening inning before turning the ball over to fellow freshman David Hull (Kelso, Wash.) for 2.0 innings. Five other Warrior hurlers – sophomore Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.), junior Chris Trammell (Salem, Ore.), sophomore Tyler Doornink (Yakima, Wash.), junior Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.), and freshman Caleb Virtue (Vancouver, Wash.) – each pitched one inning, as Lamson suffered the tough loss allowing four unearned runs on five hits in the seventh inning.

Corban would take an early two-run lead (2-0) in the top of the third inning when Ramirez roped a single to center field that scored Hiebert and Labarthe following a pair of singles to open the inning.

George Fox would knot the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brent Trask connected on a two-run home run that scored Dan Winterstein following his lead off walk.

In its next at-bat, the host Bruins would take a two-run lead (4-2) when Jason Brown scored on a fielding error by Corban before Trask drove in his third run of the afternoon via an infield single.

Corban would retake the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Ramirez drove in Hiebert via a sacrifice fly to center field that made the score 5-4 in favor of the visiting Warriors. Corban's scoring in the inning began when Labarthe drove in Baker via a single through the left side before senior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) drew a bases loaded walk that scored junior Tyler Lake (Medford, Ore.).

George Fox would take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning when Seth Anderson and Brown scored on a throwing error by Corban before Eric Gantenbein roped a two-run single to right center for a three-run Bruin lead (8-5).

Leading by three runs, George Fox would plate two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Winterstein's two-RBI double to right field that scored Sam Stahl and former Warrior Nate Hickok for a five-run lead (10-5).

In the top of the ninth inning, Labarthe led things off with a solo home run to left center before Hiebert doubled to right center. One batter later, junior Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) would trade places with Hiebert via a double down the left field line that brought home Corban's second and final run. After a pair of ground outs to end the game, the final score read 10-7 in favor of the home team.

George Fox was led offensively by Trask, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and three runs batted in. Six Bruin pitchers would appear on the mound, as Adam Weber pitched a perfect 2.0 innings en route to picking up the win.

Corban will return to NAIA West play on Friday, March 19th, against the Redhawks of Simpson beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Warrior Field in Salem.