BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

STAYTON, Ore. – Junior Steven Blum (Salem, Ore.) went a combined 4-for-8 with two runs scored, one home run, and two runs batted in, but it was not enough as Corban's baseball team dropped a pair of NAIA West games against The College of Idaho, 11-8 & 7-2, Friday at Stayton High School.

Along with Blum, seniors Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) and Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) collected three hits each with both registering home runs and a combined five RBI. Meanwhile, senior Aarason Perry (Susanville, Calif.), senior Tyler Lake (Medford, Ore.), and freshman Lance Foster (Snohomish, Wash.) had two hits each to go along with single base knocks by senior Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.), junior Jared Fritz (Ridgefield, Wash.), and sophomore Matt Hamlin (Hamilton, Mt.).

GAME #1 – COLLEGE OF IDAHO 11, CORBAN 8

In the opener, Corban had a chance to take the early lead when Taylor singled up the middle with one out before Foster ripped a double to center field. In the process, Taylor attempted to score all the way from first but he was thrown out on a questionable call at home that robbed the host team of its first run of the game.

The College of Idaho would then score eight unanswered runs with the highlight coming in the top of the fourth inning via a Kyle Douglas grand slam that extended the Coyotes' lead to 8-0.

Corban would cut C of I's lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning when Fritz registered a run-scoring single up the middle that scored Blum before Winsor belted a three-run home run over the left field wall to make the score 8-4 in favor of C of I.

In the top of the fifth inning, The College of Idaho quickly put two more runs on the board thanks to a solo home run by Gavin Gamboa before Jeffrey Harris lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that score Todd Griffiths and pushed the Coyotes' lead to 10-4.

The host Warriors would put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to a RBI by Foster before Blum registered a run-scoring hit to center field and junior Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Corban's final run of the frame making the score 10-7.

In the top of the ninth inning, The College of Idaho plated its 11th and final run of the game when Andrew Sewell scored on a wild pitch.

Corban attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning when Blum belted his team-leading third home run of the season down the left field line with one out to make the score 11-8, but it was too little, too late for the home team.

Junior Tyler Doornink (Yakima, Wash.) went the opening 4.1 innings allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts before turning the ball over to a pair of relievers – sophomore Caleb Virtue (Vancouver, Wash.) and Hiebert – for the final 4.2 innings combined.

The College of Idaho got a 3-for-5 performance from Gamboa that included two runs scored and two RBI, while Levi Mitchum went the opening 6.0 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits en route to picking up the win.

GAME #2 – COLLEGE OF IDAHO 7, CORBAN 2

The finale saw College of Idaho take a 2-0 lead after two innings before Corban came alive in the bottom of the third inning, as Hiebert belted his first home run of the season via a two-run blast that tied the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fifth inning, The College of Idaho plated five runs with the highlights coming via a solo home run by Jarel Lewis and a two-run double by Jesse Dodd that bookended the scoring and pushed the Coyotes' lead to five runs (7-2).

Corban could only muster a single hit over the final three innings, as the host Warriors dropped their 14th straight game against C of I.

Four different Corban players – Hiebert, Blum, Winsor, and Hamlin – registered hits for the Warriors, while freshman Justin White (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) went the opening 2.0 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits before senior Chris Trammell (Salem, Ore.) pitched 2.0 innings of relief. Junior Nick Stiltner (Eugene, Ore.) took the loss, as he went 1.0 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits before junior Mike McKay (Almira, Wash.) closed out the final 2.0 innings.

The College of Idaho would get two-hit performances from Lewis, Izaac Garsez, Gamboa, and Dodd, while Mitch Dame picked up the victory with a complete game performance allowing two earned runs on four hits with a game-high tying three strikeouts.

With today's results, Corban falls to 6-25 overall and 1-14 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, The College of Idaho improves to 21-13 overall and evens its league record at 9-9. These same two teams will play tomorrow in the series-ending double header beginning at noon at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.

NOTE: Thanks to unplayable field conditions at Warrior Field, the change in venue needed to happen and all fans should know that admission will be charge with adults costing $5.00 and anyone under 18 years old being charged $4.00 to get into the park.