WILSONVILLE, Ore. – The Corban University baseball team played as the host institution on Saturday afternoon at Wilsonville HS as it took on NCAA Division III opponent, Lewis & Clark College, and with a big offensive output from the Warrior bats, Corban swept the Pioneers, winning game one, 15-3, and game two, 14-8. Corban now has eight wins and zero losses against Lewis & Clark over the course of the past three years.
Through the first four games of the 2015 season, the Warriors show that they like to score early and often, scoring 24 runs through the first four innings thus far on the year. In total, Corban has outscored its two opponents, 38-20. Another good statistic early on for this Warrior team is that when leading after six innings, the Warriors are 3-0 on the campaign.
Corban began game one with a bang, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings. Senior second baseman Marc Gallegos (Astoria, Ore.) notched the team's first RBI of the day, lacing a double down the left-field line to score sophomore shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) on the play. Gallegos would come in to score on a Pioneer fielding error, and then senior right-fielder Jordan Johansen (Black Diamond, Wash.) singled to left field, scoring junior center-fielder Hayden Calvert (Canberra, Australia) to cap off the first frame.
It was senior designated hitter Daniel Orr (Kingston, Wash.) who provided the pop in the second inning for the Warriors, registering a two-RBI single to right field, scoring Gallegos and freshman catcher Austin Zavala (Medford, Ore.) on the play.
Following the third inning, there was a one hour and eight minute rain delay, so Warrior starting pitcher Austin Guzzon (Oceanside, Calif.) left the game with a 7-0 lead, throwing 3.1 innings on from the mound while allowing just one hit and striking out four batters. Sophomore pitcher Rilyn Lewchuk (Oregon City, Ore.) came in to relieve Guzzon following the rain delay, and he threw 3.2 innings while allowing four hits and one run en route to earning his second win of the young season.
As a team at the plate, the Warriors finished the game strong, tacking on five more runs in the seventh inning and then three more in the eighth en route to the 15-3 victory. Overall, the Warriors racked up 16 hits in the win, with Gallegos leading the way going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Johansen also had a solid performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. In addition, senior first baseman Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.) totaled three hits and two RBI in the game-one win.
In the nightcap, it was more of the same for Corban, as the Warriors once again jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first two frames. This time, however, it was a huge second inning for the Navy and Gold, as the Warriors put a five-spot on the board during that second frame. Calvert, Orr, and Martin all came up with RBI hits in the inning, with both Calvert and Orr's hits going for extra bases.
The Pioneers responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third, but Corban came right back with one of its own in the bottom half of the frame when Gallegos laced a single up the middle to make it 7-2.
The Warriors then left no doubt, scoring four more runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. Johansen registered a two-RBI double in the inning, while Gallegos added onto his big day with another RBI single.
The Warriors would continue to build on their lead, and while the Pioneers did pull a few runs back late in the contest, the mountain was too large to climb, as Corban won comfortably, 14-8.
Once again, Gallegos finished 3-for-3 at the dish with two runs scored and two RBI, while both Rosas and sophomore third baseman Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) totaled three hits of their own in the nightcap on Saturday. Additionally, sophomore catcher Jackson Smith (Salem, Ore.) added a pair of hits for Corban while recording one RBI and two runs scored.
On the mound, junior pitcher Tony Davidson (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho) went three innings while giving up two hits and two runs. Freshman hurler Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.) put together a masterful first-ever pitching performance for the Navy and Gold in relief, shutting down Lewis & Clark for three innings while not giving up a hit or a run en route to earning the win.
"It was the seniors and freshman providing the highlights of the day," said head coach Jeff McKay. "Marc Gallegos was outstanding with six-straight hits on the day and Peter Martin recorded five. Austin Zavala and Jarrett Thoren had their first college hits and played well defensively. Freshman pitcher Caleb Henry was also outstanding in his collegiate debut. 38 hits is a lot in a doubleheader – maybe a school record. Every player with at least two at-bats had hits in the doubleheader, and we expect to be better offensively this year. Today showed that potential. We were able to play a lot of players, and that will help us to prepare for a tough schedule of games next week."
Corban (3-1) returns to action on Thursday, February 12, when it takes on George Fox University in Newberg in the first game of the Concordia Tournament. The Warriors were scheduled to play tomorrow in Walla Walla against Whitman College, but the doubleheader has been cancelled due to wet field conditions and bad weather. Become a fan of Corban Athletics on Facebook
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