BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

NEWBERG, Ore. – Freshman Jake Balbas (Meridian, Idaho) posted the first complete game of his collegiate career Friday against conference rival Concordia, as the first-year Warrior helped lead Corban split with the Cavaliers, 5-1 & 4-5 in eight innings, at Morse Field.

Following today's result, Corban is now 12-37 overall and 5-24 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Concordia moves to 10-32 overall and 6-16 in league action.

Balbas would go the distance for the Warriors in Game #1 allowing one earned run on nine hits to go along with four strikeouts. Junior Tyler Lake (Medford, Ore.) and Luke Balbas (Boise, Idaho) along with sophomore Steven Blum (Salem, Ore.) went 4-for-8 each at the plate, while sophomore Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) drove in four runs that included three in the opener.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 5, CONCORDIA 1

Neither team would score in the opener until the top of the third inning when Ramirez drove home Luke Balbas via a single up the middle following Balbas' lead off single and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Warriors would hold the slim one-run lead (1-0) until Concordia stepped to the plate.

In the bottom of the third, the host Cavaliers would knot the score (1-1) on an Andrew Reid RBI single up the middle that scored Mike Dickman.

Corban would take the lead for good in the top of the fourth when on a Lake run-scoring single up the middle that scored fellow junior Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) for a one-run lead (2-1).

In the top of the fifth, Corban scored again on a pass ball that allowed Blum to score and handed the Warriors a two-run lead (3-1).

The visiting Warriors would cap the scoring in the top of the ninth when Ramirez roped a two-run double that scored Luke Balbas and junior pinch hitter Taylor Wyatt (Dallas, Ore.) for the final score of 5-1.

Lake would lead Corban's offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Ramirez, Blum, and Luke Balbas each turned in two-hit showings.

GAME #2 – CONCORDIA 5, CORBAN 4 (8 INNINGS)

In the night cap, Concordia scored three unanswered runs in the opening three innings on run-scoring singles that handed the Cavaliers a three-run lead (3-0).

Corban would pull within two runs (3-1) on a balk that scored Blum before Ramirez doubled home Luke Balbas in the top of the fifth and Blum tripled in Ramirez one batter later to knot the score at 3-3.

The visiting Warriors would take the lead in the top of the seventh on a Cavalier error (4-3) before Concordia knotted things at 4-4 in its final at-bat before ending the game one inning later on a walk-off single by Tony Flanagan for the winning score of 5-4.

Blum and Luke Balbas were the only Warriors to register more than one hit, while freshman Craig Baker (Meridian, Idaho) went the opening 6.0 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits before turning the ball over to junior Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) for the final four outs.

Corban will wrap up its season on Sunday, May 2nd, with an afternoon double header against Concordia beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham.