BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. – In the longest game in Porter Park history, Corban's baseball team could not overcome a six-run 12th inning by No. 2 seed Menlo falling to the Oaks, 11-5 in 12 innings, Wednesday in the second game of the NAIA West Tournament in the Rose City.

Corban (29-23) was led offensively by juniors Gregg Romero and Peter Martin with two hits each, while four other Warriors – senior Jeremiah Forrister, junior William Koenig, sophmore Jordan Johansen, and freshman Landon Frost – tallied hits for the designated home team. Forrister, senior Kyle Kunkel, Romero, Johansen, and freshman Lathan Alger each drove in runs for Corban, while the Warriors drew a game-high 15 walks led by Forrister with four.

Senior Jacob Kopra would get the start for the Warriors allowing two earned runs on four hits in 9.0 innings of work before turning the ball over to the bullpen that consisted of senior Caleb Virtue, senior David Hull, and freshman Ransom Storm. The trio of Warrior relievers would combine to allow nine earned runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings of action, as Hull suffered his second loss of the season by allowing five earned runs on two hits in 1.0 innings of work.

Menlo (31-17) was led at the plate by Corey Metoyer with a 3-for-6 evening that included three runs batted in, while three other Oaks – Jimmy Bosco, Daniel Comstock, and Michael Brandi – each collected a pair of hits and combined to drive in five runs for the designated visiting team.

Joey Webb went the opening 7.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with a game-high four strikeouts before turning the ball over to the relief quartet of Kaimi Haina, Kyer Vega, Dustin Nakayama, and Alex Tenorio. The Oaks' bullpen would give up three earned runs on two hits, as Nakayama earned his second win of the year in relief.

Corban would get the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when Martin led off the at-bat with a single to left field before stealing second and moving to third on a pass ball. Two batters later, Martin would come home on Forrister's seeing-eye single through the left side that handed the Warriors a one-run lead (1-0).

In the top of the sixth inning, Menlo would tie the game at 1-1 thanks to an infield single by Bosco that scored James Threw after he drew a walk to leadoff the inning.

After a leadoff walk by Forrister in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore pinch-runner Jake Kunkel moved to second on another walk before advancing another ninety feet on a fielder's choice. Romero would then step to the plate and ripped a RBI single to center field that scored Kunkel and gave Corban another one-run lead (2-1).

Menlo would comeback in its final at-bat during regulation when Bosco blasted the seventh pitch that he saw over the right field wall to tie the game at 2-2 forcing extra innings for the second straight game to open the NAIA West Tournament.

In the top of the 11th inning, Menlo would take advantage of a intentional walk to Bosco when Comstock ripped a two-run triple down the right field line that put the Oaks ahead by two runs (4-2). A run-scoring double by Metoyer that scored Mickey Phelps would give Menlo a three-run lead (5-2) and a chance to advance to in the winner's bracket.

Corban would not go quietly into the night though, as the Warriors quickly loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back walks by Koenig and senior Derek Legg along with a single to right field by Martin. Another two walks sandwiched around a Menlo pitching change would pull the Warriors within a single run (5-4) before Alger drew a two-out, bases loaded walk that scored the elder Kunkel and tied the game once again at 5-5.

In the top of the 12th inning, Menlo would also take advantage of a walk with the bases loaded when Comstock drew a free pass that scored Threw with the eventual game-winning run. The Oaks would add insurance runs thanks to a two-run single up the middle by Metoyer before John Bowling cleared the bases with a double to deep left center that put Menlo ahead by the final difference of six runs (11-5).

Corban would get a runner on base in the bottom of the 12th inning thanks to a one-out walk by freshman Steven Kha, but the Warriors could not capitalize falling for the fifth time this season against Menlo to move into the loser's bracket of the tournament.

Tomorrow morning, Corban will return to the diamond against No. 5 seed Oregon Tech in an elimination game that begins at 9:00 a.m. at Porter Park in Portland.