BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

LEWISTON, Idaho – Looking to boost its already strong strength of schedule, Corban's baseball team traveled to the home of the 2011 Avista NAIA World Series for a make-up double header with No. 18-ranked Lewis-Clark State and walked away Thursday with a pair of losses, 11-2 & 8-0, at Harris Field.

Coming into today's double header, Corban had the 23rd toughest schedule this season according to the latest Iterative Strength Rating that is produced daily by the NAIA national office.

Junior Steven Blum (Salem, Ore.) registered a hit in each game for the Warriors, while three Corban players – senior Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.), junior Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.), and sophomore Kyle Kunkel (Bremerton, Wash.) – collected a hit each against its nationally-ranked opponent.

GAME #1 – LEWIS-CLARK STATE 11, CORBAN 2

In the opener, Kunkel broke up a no-hitter with a double to down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning before advancing to third on a fielder's choice that had freshman pinch runner Sage Poland (Spokane, Wash.) thrown out at home. One batter later, Kunkel came home with Corban's first run on a sacrifice fly to left field by freshman Lance Foster (Snohomish, Wash.) that was caught in foul territory still allowing the speedy Kunkel to score from 90 feet away.

Blum would lead off the top of the eighth inning with a triple to right center before plating Corban's second and final run on a ground out by Ramirez.

Lewis-Clark State scored a single run in the bottom of the first inning before exploding for seven runs in the third inning and scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning before Corban could even get on the board.

Blum and Kunkel would be the only two Warriors to register hits in the opener, while freshman Thomas Hubbard (Springfield, Ore.) went the opening 2.0 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits before giving way to a pair of Corban relievers – juniors Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.) and Luke Loberg (Sublimity, Ore.).

Lewis-Clark State was led offensively by Brian Gaylord with a 2-for-6 performance that included three runs batted in, while Alfonso Casillas provided three hits for the host Warriors. Tyrell Poggemeyer earned his sixth victory of the season allowing one earned run on one hit over 6.0 innings of work before Paul Anaya turned in a quality performance over 3.0 innings en route securing his first save of the season.

GAME #2 – LEWIS-CLARK STATE 8, CORBAN 0

In the finale, Corban registered two of its three hits in the opening inning with Ramirez leading things off for the Warriors with a one out single before Blum moved his junior teammate up 90 feet with a single to center field. Unfortunately, both runners were stranded on base for Corban thwarting any scoring opportunity.

Lewis-Clark State would put a combined five runs on the board before Corban recorded another hit via a lead off single up the middle by Taylor in the top of the fourth inning.

The Warriors' pitching staff would allow another three runs before the final out was recorded, as Corban dropped its fifth game this season to Lewis-Clark State.

Blum, Ramirez, and Taylor each recorded hits for Corban, while sophomore Jake Balbas (Meridian, Idaho) went the opening 4.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits before giving way to sophomore Caleb Virtue (Vancouver, Wash.) for the final 4.0 innings of work.

Casillas led Lewis-Clark State offensively with a 4-for-5 performance that included two runs scored and three RBI, while Gaylord added a three-hit showing for the host Warriors. LCSC's Tyler Barrett went the opening 8.0 innings allowing a mere three hits with a game-high 10 strikeouts before Zach Clanton pitched a perfect ninth inning.

With today's results, Corban falls to 9-33 overall and 4-19 in NAIA West action. Meanwhile, Lewis-Clark State improves to 26-13 overall and 15-8 in league games. Both teams will continue their three-day series tomorrow – Friday, April 22nd – with another afternoon double header starting at 3:00 p.m. on Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.