McMINNIVILLE, Ore. – Behind a phenomenal pitching performance from junior Tony Davidson (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), the Corban University baseball team defeated NCAA Division III No. 4-ranked Linfield College, 3-1. For the Warriors, the triumph over the Wildcats marks the second-straight season that Corban has defeated Linfield in McMinnville.
In a game that was dominated on both sides by pitching, it was actually Linfield who struck first, scoring in the third inning via a sacrifice fly.
Both pitchers were dealing, as for Corban it was Davidson, while for Linfield (4-1), it was Chris Haddeland. Haddeland returns to the Wildcats as the only NCAA D-III student-athlete to be named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award watch list, which is a 50-man watch list with only three non-Division I candidates that are up for the nation's top amateur player of the year.
Corban battled against Haddeland and eventually got to him in the sixth frame. The Warriors played aggressive offensively in the inning, registering a steal and eventually scored on a passed ball, not letting any opportunities slip through the cracks. Following the sixth, Corban led 2-1.
Warrior junior center-fielder Hayden Calvert (Canberra, Australia) then provided Corban with the insurance it was looking for, lacing an RBI single to center field, scoring senior second baseman Marc Gallegos (Astoria, Ore.) on the play.
Davidson did run into some trouble in the bottom half of the eighth, as Linfield eventually loaded the bases with just one out and Corban leading by two runs. With the tying run on second, Davidson got the Wildcat batter to lineout into a key inning-ending double play, keeping the Warriors in front by a pair of runs.
Junior pitcher Adam Shumka (White Rock, B.C.) then came in to close the door in the ninth for the Navy and Gold, sitting the Wildcat batters down 1-2-3, ending the game in favor of the road squad. For Shumka, it was his second save in as many nights.
Davidson's final line finished at eight innings pitched, three hits allowed, and just one run given up. He also struck out three batters in the process of earning his first win of the season.
"What a performance by Tony Davidson," said head coach Jeff McKay. "We also played excellent defense. Linfield is as good of a team as we will play all year, as the Wildcats are ranked fourth nationally in the NCAA Division III. It is a very impressive win at this time in the season."
At the dish, senior first baseman Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.) led the Warriors offensively with two hits, while Calvert notched an RBI and one hit on the day. Senior designated hitter Daniel Orr (Kingston, Wash.) and Gallegos also recorded hits and a run scored for the Warriors, while sophomore shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) scored a key run for Corban as well.
For Linfield, Haddeland went 7.2 innings on the day, allowing four hits and three runs in his first loss of the year.
Corban (5-1) returns to the diamond tomorrow when it faces off against the University of Puget Sound (2-3). First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Linfield College.
