BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SALEM, Ore. – Playing its first NAIA West games on Warrior Field since the 2010 season, Corban's baseball team earned a double header split with the visiting Cavaliers of Concordia, 10-2 & 0-1, Friday behind a complete game performance by senior Jamie McCaffrey in the opener.

Corban (19-13, 6-8 NAIA West) was led offensively by seniors Derek Legg and Jeremiah Forrister with a combined three hits each, while junior Gregg Romero and sophomore Jordan Johansen tallied two hits each on the afternoon. Legg, junior Peter Martin, and Johansen would each drive in two runs for the Warriors in this weekend's opening two-game series.

McCaffery would go the distance in the opener allowing two unearned runs on six hits with a game-tying three strikeouts to pick up his fifth win of the year. In the finale, senior Jacob Kopra would pitch the opening 8.0 innings allowing one earned run on six hits to go along with a game-high four K's en route to suffering the hard-fought loss before fellow senior Caleb Virtue got the final three outs that included a pair of strikeouts.

Concordia (16-16, 8-6 NAIA West) was led offensively by Cole Shidaki with three hits, while seven other Cavaliers – Blake Drake, Jordan Keeker, Christian Lichtenthaler, Ben Talbot, Carl Beckert, Jared Young, and Sheldon Austria – all collected hits for CU.

On the mound, Alex Bos would get the start in Game #1 for Concordia allowing nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 5.0 innings before turning the ball over to the relief duo of Ryan Garrett and Gage Aker for the final 3.0 innings. Jon Yearout would start the finale allowing just three hits over the opening 6.0 innings en route to earning his third win of the season, while Austin Hadley pitched a near perfect final 3.0 innings en route to earning his second save of the year.

GAME #1 — CORBAN 10, CONCORDIA 2

In Friday's opener, Concordia would jump on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the opening inning as the visiting Cavaliers built a 2-0 lead. CU's Drake led off with a double through the left side before advancing to third on the first of four errors in the game by Corban. A single to left field by Shidaki would score Drake from third and put the visiting Cavaliers ahead by the score of 1-0. Three batters later, Lichtenthaler would reach on a fielder's choice that allowed C.J. Watson to score Concordia' second run after he reached on an error earlier in the inning.

Both teams would settle down over the next three innings until Corban exploded for nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth ininng, as the Warriors built a seven-run lead (9-2). Romero would register a one-out infield single before moving to second on Johansen's single to left center followed by a walk by junior William Koenig that loaded the bases. A double down the left field line by Legg would tie the game at 2-2 before junior Nate Williams was intentionally walked to load the bases once again. Immediately following the walk to Williams, Martin would rip a two-run single through the right side that allowed sophomore pinch-runner Jake Kunkel and Legg to score with the eventual game-winning runs with Williams also coming home on a throwing error by Concordia that allowed Martin to advance all the way to third. Following a hit by pitch by senior Kyle Kunkel, freshman Landon Frost registered a run-scoring groundout that scored Martin and put the Warriors ahead by four runs (6-2). Forrister would bring home Corban's seventh run of the inning on a single to center field that scored the elder Kunkel. One batter later, Johansen would rip a seeing-eye single through the right side that scored Forrister and Romero before the inning ended wioth Johansen being thrown out at second attempting to advance on the throw home. When all the dust settled, Corban had built a seven-run lead (9-2).

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Corban would extend its lead to eight runs (10-2) when Martin reached on an error to leadoff the inning before advancing to second on a groundout. A sacrifice bunt by Frost would move Martin to third before junior pinch-hitter Lance Foster was hit by a pitch putting runners at first and third. Forrister would re-enter the game at first base and attempted to execute a double steal, as Martin crossed the plate before Forrister was tagged out in a pickle between first and second to end the inning.

Concordia's only offense over the final two innings came in the top of the ninth via a leadoff single by Lichtenthaler before he advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts. The Cavaliers could not capitalize on the leadoff single, as Corban ended the game on a running catch by Romero in foul territory down the left field line just before he collided with the rolled up field tarp to preserve the eight-run win.

Legg, Romero, and Johansen would make up 66.7% of the Warriors' offense with a combined six hits, while Martin, Kunkel, and Forrister provided the other hits for Corban. Legg, Johansen, and Martin would all register two-run hits in the Warriors' nine-run fifth inning, as the trio led the team's scoring output.

Concordia was led offensively by Shidaki with a 2-for-4 performance that included one RBI, while Lichtenthaler added the Cavaliers' only other RBI.

GAME #2 — CONCORDIA 1, CORBAN 0

Friday's finale would a pitcher's dual from start to finish, as Concordia scored the game's only run in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a bases loaded sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryne Briley that scored Shidaki following his one-out walk.

Concordia would put up a threat in the top of the seventh inning, as the visiting Cavaliers loaded the bases with no outs only to have Corban's starting pitcher – Kopra – get CU to strikeout, foul out, and strikeout again to end the threat.

Corban would have runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings, but could not get the game-tying run home. The Warriors had a runner at second in the bottom of the seventh inning and saw the potential tying run get to third in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Concordia's pitching and defense stepped up to the challenge en route to preserving the one-run victory (1-0).

Forrister would lead Corban's bat-attack in Game #2 with a perfect 2-for-2 performance, while Legg and freshman Steven Kha tallied the Warriors' only other hits in the finale.

Briley was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate for Concordia in the nightcap, while four other Cavaliers – Shidaki, Beckert, Young, and Austria – tallied hits for CU.

Both teams will return to the diamond tomorrow – Saturday, March 30th – to close out the four-game weekend series in an early-afternoon double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Warrior Field in Salem.