FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The Corban University baseball team got back to its winning ways on Wednesday evening, going on the road to Pacific University and taking down the NCAA Division-III Boxers in convincing fashion, 8-0. For Corban, it is its fourth win over a Northwest Conference program during this 2015 campaign.
"It is a good win when two freshman get their first collegiate hits," said head coach Jeff McKay. "Tyler Dordan and Chase Swainston have bright futures. Also, freshman pitcher Caleb Henry had his best pitching outing of the year."
Both the bats and the gloves were clicking on Wednesday, as Corban scored all eight of its runs through the first five innings while only surrendering four hits total and allowing no runs on the night.
Senior first baseman Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.) got things going with an RBI single in the top of the first frame, scoring junior right-fielder Nic Coffman (Portland, Ore.) on the play to put the Warriors in front early. Senior second baseman Ben Straka (Eugene, Ore.) then recorded an RBI groundout in the top of the second, scoring freshman left-fielder Tyler Dordan (Newport, Ore.) to double the lead.
Senior designated hitter Scott Dreier (Santa Cruz, Calif.) notched an RBI single in the third inning, and then the Navy and Gold blew the contest open in the fourth with four runs. Senior third baseman Stockton Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) got the wheels rolling with an RBI single to right-center, and then Coffman laced a two-RBI double down the right-field line, extending the lead to 6-0. Sophomore shortstop Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) capped off the big frame with an RBI single to put the game out of reach.
Taylor ripped an RBI double in the next inning, and that was more than enough as the Warriors cruised to the comfortable victory over the Boxers by eight runs.
Both Dordan and freshman center-fielder Chase Swainston (Nampa, Idaho) recorded their first collegiate hits for the Navy and Gold, and it was Swainston who finished the day with two hits, going 2-for-3 at the dish with one run scored. Martin led the way at the plate for Corban with three hits, while Taylor, Coffman, and Gonzalez each tallied a pair of hits for the Warriors.
On the mound, freshman pitcher Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.) went five innings en route to earning the win, allowing just two hits and striking out two in a shutout performance. Junior pitcher Daniel Gober (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), sophomore pitcher Daniel Aranda (Lebanon, Ore.), junior pitcher Ryan Wood (Meridian, Idaho), and Coffman all came on in relief and shut down the Boxer offense, preserving the shutout for the Navy and Gold.
"It was good to get back to Oregon and play," said McKay. "We are back on the road this weekend to play a nationally-ranked team. This win will give us good momentum for that."
Corban (10-8) returns to action on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series with Lewis-Clark State on the road. The series is slated as a non-conference series, and it is the last set of games prior to the start of NAIA-West play. Be sure to check the Warrior baseball schedule page for full details on live stats and audio for this weekend's games.
