SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University baseball team couldn't get the bats going on Tuesday afternoon at Warrior Field, totaling just five hits against cross-town rival, Willamette University, ultimately resulting in a 5-2 loss to the Bearcats. The two teams split the season series following Corban's win in last week's game against Willamette on the road, 7-2.
The Bearcats jumped on top early, tallying a pair of runs in the top of the second.
The Warriors looked to respond right away and loaded the bases in the bottom of the second frame with no outs. Freshman first baseman Tyler Dordan (Newport, Ore.) hit an RBI groundout to drive home senior left-fielder Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.), putting Corban on the board, but the Navy and Gold couldn't take advantage of the big opportunity early, scoring no more runs in the inning.
Willamette continued to be assertive at the plate, as the Bearcats mustered two more runs and three hits in the third to take a 4-1 advantage. Meanwhile, Corban struggled on the offensive end, as the Warriors couldn't register hits in the first and third innings.
The game went along until the seventh inning when Willamette (18-7) struck again, tacking on an insurance run in the frame, extending the lead to four runs.
Corban threatened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run and then had the tying run at the dish with just one out. Unfortunately for the Navy and Gold, the timely hit did not come when it needed it most, as the next two batters were retired, keeping the deficit at three runs heading into the ninth.
In its final at-bat, Corban went down 1-2-3, resulting in the three-run defeat.
Sophomore shortstop Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) led the way at the plate for the Warriors, going 2-for-4. A trio of others tallied one hit apiece. Martin finished the day with one hit and two runs scored.
Sophomore pitcher Dallas Broge (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was the starter for the Navy and Gold, throwing two innings and giving up three hits and two runs in the loss. Junior pitcher Ryan Wood (Meridian, Idaho) gave Corban some good relief out of the bullpen late, going two innings while giving up no hits and no runs.
For Willamette, Rolenn Himuro went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. Additionally, Gordie Clary registered a two-hit performance for the Bearcats at the dish.
Lucas Still earned the win for Willamette on the mound, hurling three innings while giving up just three hits and one run. Andrew Koumelis picked up the save, throwing 1.1 innings while allowing no runs and no hits.
Corban (17-19) returns to action on Friday when it travels to Klamath Falls to take on Oregon Tech in an NAIA-West doubleheader. The Owls and Warriors will then travel back to Salem for a Saturday doubleheader at Warrior Field. Games both days are set to start at 1 p.m.
