BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. – Senior Anthony Wirkkala struck out a game and season-high nine batters over six innings of work, as Corban's baseball team dropped the finale of a four-game series against rival Concordia, 7-3, Sunday at Hilken Community Stadium.

With today's setback, Corban falls to 13-9 overall and 5-7 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Concordia improves to 13-11 overall and 6-6 in NAIA West games.

Along with Wirkkala's performance on the mound, fellow senior Cody Atkinson went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a run batted in to go along with three other Warriors – sophomore Kris Gokey, sophomore Gregg Romero, and freshman Marc Gallegos – that collected two hits each. Romero and Gallegos would drive in the other two Corban runs on the afternoon.

Concordia would open the game with five unanswered runs that included single runs in the first and second innings before exploding for three runs in the sixth inning on three hits. The Cavaliers' Mike Cero would begin the offensive output in the bottom of the sixth inning via a single through the left side before a sacrifice fly to center field would give Concordia a 4-0 lead. CU's Ben Talbot would cap the scoring with a single through the right side that scored Cero and pushed the home team's advantage to five runs (5-0) after six complete innings.

Corban would get a run back in the top of the seventh inning, as back-to-back singles by Gallegos and Romero put a runner at second after Gallegos was thrown out at third on Romero's single down the left field line. After a groundout that advanced Romero to third, Atkinson drove in the Warriors' first run of the game via a single to third base that cut Corban's deficit to four runs (5-1).

Unfortunately, Concordia would put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning via a sacrifice fly by Cero and a run-scoring single to center field by Rodriguez that pushed the host Cavaliers' lead to six runs (7-1).

In the top of the ninth inning, Corban scored two runs after senior Steven Blum and Gokey registered back-to-back singles. A balk would advance Blum to third and junior pinch-runner Kyle Kunkel to second with one out. After a fly out, Gallegos drove in Blum on a single to short before Romero plated the Warriors' third and final run of the afternoon via a single to left field that scored Kunkel for the final score of 7-3.

Wirkkala went the opening 6.0 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits, while getting 11 straight Concordia hitters out over a span of 3.2 innings that included striking out the side in the fourth inning. Junior Caleb Virtue would relieve Wirkkala going the final 2.0 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with one K.

Concordia was led offensively by Jared Young and Jordan Keeker with two hits each, while Larsen Kohler pitched his second complete game of the season allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts.

Corban will return to action in a make-up game on Tuesday, March 20th, against cross town rival and NCAA Division III member Willamette beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Salem.