BOX SCORE

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Senior Steven Blum was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, one home run, and three runs batted in, as Corban's baseball team returned to its winning ways with a 7-2 non-conference victory over Pacific University of Oregon Tuesday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

With today's win, Corban moves six games above .500 improving to 23-17. Meanwhile, Pacific drops its second straight game to the Warriors in a one-week span falling to 17-14 on the season.

Along with Blum's offensive performance, freshman Tyler Atkinson was 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI. Junior Alex Bost, junior Jeremiah Forrister, sophomore Lance Foster, and freshman Marc Gallegos collected Corban's other three hits on the night.

On the mound for the Warriors, senior Anthony Wirkkala got the start allowing one earned run on four hits in three innings of work before turning the ball over to a trio of Corban relievers. Junior Caleb Virtue took the ball first and picked up his second win of the season allowing just two hits in three innings of work, while freshman Jordan Johansen and sophomore Ryan Rodriguez combined to get the final nine outs of the game.

Corban would strike first in its opening at-bat, as Gallegos led off the game with a single to center field before stealing second and coming home on Blum's 13th double of the season to right field. The Warriors' very next batter – Atkinson – would trade places with Blum thanks to a run-scoring double to left field that put the visiting team up by two runs (2-0).

Pacific would cut the Warriors' lead in half in the bottom of the first inning when Nate Rasmussen lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Kevin Schwartz to come home following his leadoff single through the left side making the score 2-1 in favor of Corban.

Neither team would score in the second inning, as Corban tacked on three runs in the top of the third thanks to a two-run double single to right center by Atkinson that scored seniors Cody Atkinson and Colby Sokol following back-to-back walks. After a dropped fly ball by Pacific and a pair of wild pitches, the younger Atkinson scored Corban's final run of the inning pushing the Warriors' lead to four runs (5-1).

In the top of the seventh inning, Sokol led off with a walk before Blum belted his second home run of the season over the left center field wall to put Corban up by six runs (7-1).

Pacific would put its second and final run of the game on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning when Rasmussen singled to left center bringing home Schwartz after his leadoff double to right field for the final score of 7-2.

Schwartz led Pacific's offense with a 3-for-4 performance to go along with two runs scored, while Tyler Kotchik suffered his third loss of the season allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits through the opening 2.2 innings. A trio of Boxer relievers – Kyle Treadway, Rylan Tomlin, and Matt Delegato – would combined to allow two earned runs on three hits over the final 6.1 innings of work.

Corban will return to action on Saturday, April 21st, against fellow NAIA West member Simpson in a mid-afternoon double header that beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Redding, California.