BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

KEIZER, Ore. – Senior Colby Sokol hit a game-winning grand slam and senior Tyler Doornink pitched a complete game in the opener, as Corban's baseball team split a double header with the visiting Oaks of Menlo, 4-3 & 5-6, Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium.

With today's result, Corban moves to 19-14 overall and 11-12 in NAIA West games. Meanwhile, Menlo wins this weekend's series improving to 18-20 overall and 13-11 in league contests.

Senior Steven Blum and freshman Jordan Johansen led the Warriors' offense with a pair of hits, while six other Corban players – Sokol, senior Cody Atkinson, sophomore Kris Gokey, sophomore Ryan Rodriguez, sophomore Gregg Romero, and freshman Peter Martin – each had a hit on the afternoon.

GAME #1 – CORBAN 4, MENLO 3

In the opener, Menlo scored three unanswered runs over the opening two innings with the highlight coming off the bat of Michael Brandi via a two-run single to left field in the top of the first inning. After the first two innings, the visiting Oaks held a three-run lead (3-0) before Corban got on the board.

After being held to just one hit over the first five innings, Corban exploded for four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Martin would begin the at-bat with a single to left field before Rodriguez doubled down the left field line putting runners at second and third with one out. A walk by Johansen would load the bases before Romero reached on a fielder's choice, as Menlo threw out Martin at home for the second out to bring up Sokol. On the second pitch that he saw during the at-bat, Sokol crushed a grand slam into the protective netting over the right field wall giving the host Warriors a one-run lead (4-3) with one swing of the bat.

Doornink would then take control over the final four innings, as the senior right-hander allowed just three combined hits by Menlo en route to picking up his fifth win of the season.

Offensively for Corban, five Warriors – Johansen, Sokol, Atkinson, Martin, and Rodriguez – each collected hits with Doornink allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in a complete game victory that included three strikeouts.

Menlo was led offensively by James Threw with a 2-for-4 performance that included a run scored, while Derek Martinez suffered the heart-breaking loss allowing four earned runs on five hits in 8.0 innings of work that included a game-high eight K's.

GAME #2 – MENLO 6, CORBAN 5

The finale would see Corban score the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning, as Johansen reached on a fielding error before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Romero. A wild pitch would move Johansen to third before Sokol lifted a deep sacrifice fly to center field allowing Johansen to come home for an early 1-0 Warrior lead.

Menlo would answer back with a run of its own tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning when C.J. Dailey scored on a throwing error by Corban after he reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the Oaks' at-bat.

Corban would plate three runs in the bottom of the second inning with the highlight coming off the bat of Johansen, as he ripped a two-run single to right field that scored Blum and junior Andy Hill for a two-run lead (3-1). Romero would bring Rodriguez home during the next at-bat on a run-scoring single to left field to put Corban up by three runs (4-1).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban added another run when Blum led off with a double down the left field line before moving to third on a ground out by Gokey and coming home on a ground out by Rodriguez for a 5-1 Warrior lead.

Not wanting to walk away dropping both games of today's double header, Menlo put five runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning when John Hanley led off with an infield single before moving to third on a single to right field by Threw. With runners on first and third, Collin Forgey ripped a run-scoring single to right field to pull the Oaks within three runs (5-2). After a double steal, Will Pierce ripped a RBI single to center field to bring home Threw and pulled Menlo within two runs (5-3). Following a pitching change by Corban, the Warrior committed back-to-back throwing errors that allowed Forgey and Pierce to score tying the game at 5-all.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Menlo added the eventual game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning when Forgey led off with double down the left field line before moving to third on a wild pitch. Pierce would then lifted a high sacrifice fly to center field bringing home Forgey and giving the visiting Oaks a slim one-run lead (6-5).

Over its final three at-bats, Corban could only muster a double to left field by Blum with Menlo's pitching staff shutting down the Warriors' offense en route to picking up its third win of the weekend.

Blum would lead Corban's offense with a pair of hits, while senior Anthony Wirkkala went the opening 4.1 innings allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits. Johansen and Rodriguez would combine to pitch the final 2.2 innings, as Johansen suffered his first loss of the season allowing one earned run on two hits.

Menlo would get three-hit performances from Forgey, Pierce, and Hanley, while James Jensen went the opening 5.1 innings allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits before Kris Ramirez and Joey Webb went the final 3.2 innings in relief. Ramirez would pick up his first win of the season going a perfect 2.2 innings before Webb picked up his team-leading fourth save of the season pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Corban will return to action on Tuesday, April 10th, in a make-up non-conference game against NCAA Division III member George Fox beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.