BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

KEIZER, Ore. – Senior Colby Sokol went a combined 6-for-8 at the plate with three home runs and nine runs batted in, as Corban's baseball team earned a double header split with the visiting Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 13-5 and 6-11, Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium.

With today's results, Corban moves to 15-11 overall and 7-9 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech goes to 12-16 overall and 6-6 in NAIA West games.

Along with Sokol's offensive firepower, senior Steven Candelaria collected a combined five hits in the twin bill to go along with home runs by junior Alex Bost and sophomore Lance Foster. On the night, eight Warriors – Sokol, Candelaria, senior Cody Atkinson, sophomore Gregg Romero, Foster, Bost, sophomore Kris Gokey, and freshman Marc Gallegos – has two-or-more hits, while Foster and Bost registered three and two RBI, respectively.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 13, OREGON TECH 5

In the opener, Corban wasted no time in putting runs on the scoreboard with Romero registering a one-out single to left center before Sokol belted his first home run of the night over the right field wall for an early 2-0 Warrior lead. Two straight hits would follow Sokol's round-tripper, as Atkinson ripped a double to right field before Foster drove him in with single through the right side for a 3-0 Corban lead. One batter later, Candelaria singled up the middle to bring home Foster to cap the Warriors' scoring in the first inning as Corban held a 4-0 lead over the Owls.

The Warriors would add another run in the bottom of the second inning, as Sokol drove home Gallegos with a single to center field following Gallegos' leadoff single to extend Corban's lead to five runs (5-0).

Oregon Tech would answer the Warriors' five unanswered runs with four of its own in the top of the third inning, as Dylan Rogers highlighted the at-bat with a bases-clearing double to left center that pulled the Hustlin' Owls within a single run (5-4).

Fortunately for Corban, its offensive output was not finished as the Warriors put five more runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth innings thanks to a pair of two-run home runs by Sokol and Foster followed by a run-scoring double to left center by Gokey that extended Corban's lead to six runs (10-4).

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sokol would register his sixth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Gallegos following his walk that opened the inning. After five innings of play, Corban held a seven-run advantage (11-4) and was not done.

The bottom of the sixth inning would begin with a dropped foul ball by Oregon Tech that allowed Candelaria to have new life, as the senior infielder took advantage with a single to right field before Bost registered a pinch-hit two-run home run for a 13-4 Warrior lead.

Neither team would score again until the top of the ninth inning when Oregon Tech put a single run on the board via a RBI single to left field by Matthew Miller that made the final score 13-5 in favor of the home team.

Corban was led offensively by Sokol's perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate that included his third and fourth home runs of the season and a career-high six RBI, while Candelaria went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and Foster was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.

On the mound, junior Jacob Kopra went the opening 5.0 innings for Corban allowing four earned runs on four hits with a season-high three strikeouts en route to earning his second win of the season, while senior Tyler Doornink pitched the final 4.0 innings allowing one unearned run on three hits with a game-high five K's.

For Oregon Tech, Alex Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and the pitching trio of Hayden Wolfe, Ryan Grant, and Thomas Kizziar combined to allow 13 runs (12 earned) on 17 hits. Wolfe would suffer the loss, as he allowed 10 earned runs over 3.2 innings of work for the Owls.

GAME #2 – OREGON TECH 11, CORBAN 6

This weekend's series finale would be a different story for both teams, as Oregon Tech put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning thanks to a three-run home run by Rogers.

In the top of the second inning, Oregon Tech would extend its lead to four runs (4-0) thanks to a sacrifice fly by Reynolds that scored Dustin Norman after he led off the inning by reaching base on a Warrior error.

Corban would get one run back in the bottom of the third inning when Gallegos singled to center field allowing junior pinch-runner Andy Hill to score after he took over on the base paths for Gokey, who began the inning with a single to second base.

Oregon Tech would then turn on its offense, scoring five of the game's next six runs with Rogers registering his second home run of the game via a solo shot that led off the fifth inning. After all the dust had settled, OIT had an 8-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban would put its third run on the board thanks to a run-scoring single to left field by Candelaria that scored Sokol after his leadoff double started the at-bat.

After another run by Oregon Tech in the top of the seventh inning that made the score 9-3, the host Warriors attempted to mount a comeback when Sokol belted his third home run of the night and fifth of the season via a three-run shot over the right field wall that pulled Corban within three runs (9-6).

Unfortunately, OIT's offense was not done as the Owls scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning on back-to-back bases loaded walks for the final margin of 11-6.

Sokol and Romero would lead Corban's offense with a pair of two-hits performances, while six other Warriors collected a hit each in the nightcap. Senior Anthony Wirkkala would start the game for Corban allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits over the opening 4.2 innings before a quartet of Warrior relievers – senior Mike McKay, junior Caleb Virtue, junior Ryan Rodriguez, and freshman Andy Thiessen – combined to pitch the final 4.1 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits.

Oregon Tech was led offensively by Rogers with a 3-for-5 performance that included two runs scored and four RBI, while Zack Earle picked up the win going 6.2 innings allowing four earned runs on eight hits with a game-high four strikeouts.

Corban will return to action on Tuesday, March 27th, in a single, nine-inning make-up game against NCAA Division III member George Fox beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.