BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – In the opening game of a weekend series between cross town rivals Corban and Willamette, the Warriors' baseball team saw 15 unanswered runs go up on the scoreboard by the host Bearcats in a 17-5 loss Friday at John Lewis Field.

Junior starting pitcher Jake Balbas went the opening 4.0 innings allowing five earned runs on six hits with a team-high four strikeouts, while freshman Tyler Atkinson turned in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate that included his first career home run and four runs batted in.

The host Bearcats trailed 3-1 midway through the third inning, but moved in front for good, 5-3, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth stanza.

WU held a 10-3 advantage after six innings and took total control with seven runs in the seventh. Willamette improved to 2-7 on the season. Corban dropped to 7-2 overall.

Willamette's Mitch Rowan hit for three-fourths of the cycle. He blasted a solo homer down the left field line for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, added a single off the pitcher's leg in the sixth and smacked an RBI double in the seventh.

Rowan went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, as he advanced his batting average to .440 for the season.

Also earning three hits each for the Bearcats were Tommy Kawamura and Tosh Semlacher. Kawamura finished 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Semlacher went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

Hunter Gallant added a 2-for-5 performance, scored two runs and registered two RBIs. Brandon Chinn also went 2-for-5 and achieved two RBIs. Tyson Giza matched Rowan with a team-high three runs scored.

Three Corban players earned two hits apiece. Sophomore Gregg Romero was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and freshman Marc Gallegos was 2-for-5 and scored once. The Warriors connected for 10 hits overall.

Rowan's home run with two outs in the first inning gave Willamette an early lead, but Corban tallied three runs in the top of the third to move in front. The inning began with junior Andy Hill receiving a walk, Romero earning an infield hit, and Gallegos providing a single up the middle. After a strikeout, Atkinson drove in Hill and Romero with a single to right. Gallegos scored on a single by senior Colby Sokol.

The Bearcats cut the lead to 3-2 by scoring once in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Giza was at first base when Kawamura belted a double down the right field line. Giza advanced to third on the play and then scored on a wild pitch.

After Corban failed to score in the top of the fourth, the Bearcats continued to gain momentum.

In the bottom of the inning, Willamette used three hits to produce three runs. Sky Kelley, who walked to start the inning, moved to third on Semlacher's hit-and-run single with one out. Kelley scored on a failed pick-off attempt at first, as Semlacher reached second. Gallant contributed a two-out RBI single up the middle and scored when Chinn doubled to left center.

Willamette added two runs in the fifth for a 7-3 advantage. The inning featured four singles, including one by Kelley that went off the base umpire in front of the shortstop. Kawamura, Tiras Koon and Ben Petersen also achieved hits, with Koon and Petersen claiming RBIs.

Another three runs in the sixth kept the host Bearcats in charge. Kelly brought home one of the runs with a sacrifice fly, while Semlacher drove in two runs with a single.

Atkinson's two-run homer with Romero at first base in the top of the seventh cut the margin to 10-5, but the Bearcats responded with seven runs in the bottom of the frame.

Willamette amassed six hits during the lengthy inning, including an RBI double by Rowan and a two-RBI single from Rolenn Himuro.

Three Bearcat pitchers combined for the win, as Peter Hoffman started and went six innings. He allowed three runs and seven hits, while striking out two batters. He moved to 1-0 on the season.

Blake Evetts tossed the next two innings and struck out three Warriors despite allowing Atkinson's homer. Zach Holcomb pitched the final inning.

Corban's Balbas struck out four batters in four innings, but fell to 1-1 with the loss. The Warriors used six pitchers during the game, including senior Mike McKay, senior Anthony Wirkkala, sophomore Marc Labarthe, freshman Jordan Johansen, and junior David Hull.

These same two teams are scheduled to complete the series with a doubleheader at John Lewis Field tomorrow – Saturday, February 25th – starting at 11:00 a.m.

NOTE: Depending on the amount of rain that the Willamette Valley receives overnight, the games might be moved to Stayton High School's Joe Brock Field in order to take advantage of the turf infield at the Eagles' home facility. Stay tuned to GoWarriorsGo.com for further details, as they are announced in the morning.