BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

REDDING, Calif. – For the first time since the 2002 season, Corban's baseball team has guaranteed a winning regular season after earning a NAIA West double header split with Simpson, 18-12 & 3-6, Sunday at Tiger Field.

With today's results, Corban moves to 25-19 overall and 13-14 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Simpson concludes it season at 20-31 overall and 7-24 in NAIA West games.

On the afternoon, senior Steven Blum led the Warriors' offense with a combined 5-for-7 performance that included four runs scored, two home runs, and six runs batted in. Along with Blum, three other Warriors – senior Cody Atkinson, senior Colby Sokol, and freshman Tyler Atkinson – also registered at least three hits and drove in at least one RBI. Sophomore Lance Foster was also a combined 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 18, SIMPSON 12

In the opener, Corban would jump out to a 9-1 lead after the opening two innings thanks to a second-inning, three-run home run to left field by Blum that highlighted the Warriors' opening two at-bats.

Simpson would pull within six runs (9-3) before Corban added four more runs in the top of the fourth inning on a run-scoring single to right field by Sokol before a pair of sacrifice flies bookended a RBI single to center field by Foster to push the Warriors' lead to 10 runs (13-3).

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Simpson would add two runs to its total before a two-run RBI single to right center by sophomore Ryan Rodriguez in the top of the sixth inning would push Corban's lead back to 10 runs (15-5).

Simpson would put six unanswered runs on the board over the next two innings to pull within four runs (15-11) before Corban added three more runs in the top of the ninth inning on a run-scoring single down the left field line by the elder Atkinson before Blum belted his second home run of the game via a two-run blast over the left field wall for a seven-run Warrior lead (18-11).

In its last at-bat, Simpson added its 12th and final run thanks to a run-scoring single to right field by Mitch Garcia. After putting  two more Redhawk batters on bases without recording an out, Corban's head coach Jeff McKay made the final pitching change of the game and the Warriors' defense stepped up the pressure getting the final three outs via a double play and a ground out.

Blum and Sokol led Corban's offense with a pair of 4-for-5 performances, as Blum added four runs scored and five RBI on a double and a pair of home runs. Sokol also scored four runs and drove in three runs, while Foster tallied three RBI in the victory.

Senior Tyler Doornink picked up his sixth win of the season allowing nine runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work with a game-high three strikeouts before turning the ball over to a pair of Warrior relievers – junior Caleb Virtue and Rodriguez. The bullpen duo would combine to allow three earned runs on four hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Simpson would get two hits from five different players, while Matthew Hart suffered the loss allowing 13 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits before turning the ball over to a trio of Redhawk relievers – Joshua Yachinich, Chad Alden, and Daniel Chavez.

GAME #2 – SIMPSON 6, CORBAN 3

This weekend's finale would be a different story, as Corban scored the game's first run on a RBI double to right center by the elder Atkinson scoring sophomore Gregg Romero in the first inning before Simpson added six unanswered runs over the next three innings to build a 6-1 lead.

Corban would add two more runs in the top of the fifth inning on another run-scoring double by Atkinson before Blum drove in his six run of the day in the top of the ninth inning on a single to left field for the final margin of three runs (6-3).

Romero and the elder Atkinson would lead Corban's offense with three hits each, while senior Anthony Wirkkala suffered his third loss of the season allowing six runs (two earned) on five hits before turning the ball over to junior David Hull for the final 5.2 innings.

Simpson was led offensively by Angel Marti and Garrett Barnett with two hits and two RBI each, while Scott McKeen went the distance to pick up his fifth win of the season allowing three earned runs on 11 hits with a game-high 10 strikeouts.

Corban will return to action on Tuesday, April 24th, in its final non-conference game of the season against cross-town rival Willamette beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.