LEWISTON, Idaho - The Corban University baseball team kept it close on Sunday against No. 2 Lewis-Clark State, but the Navy and Gold ultimately gave up some big innings midway through the contest, resulting in a 20-3 loss.
"We did not respond well today," said head coach Jeff McKay. "It was our poorest effort of the year in all areas. I am not sure what happened. It has been a long set of road games. Travel may have taken some toll on us. We need to play at home, but won't get to until after opening league next weekend. We always say the season will be defined by how we finish, not by how we start. We have a lot of season left. Our goals are still in reach."
Corban began the game well, as senior first baseman Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.) ripped an RBI single up the middle, scoring sophomore shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) to give the Warriors the early lead.
L-C State responded in the bottom half of the frame, however, scoring a quartet of runs to nab a commanding 4-1 advantage.
Rosas cut into the deficit for Corban in the second inning, lacing an RBI single through the left side, scoring freshman center-fielder Chase Swainston (Nampa, Idaho). Senior right-fielder Jordan Johansen (Maple Valley, Wash.) made it a one-run game the next inning when he registered an RBI groundout, scoring Martin.
The fourth inning is where things went bad for the Navy and Gold, as Corban surrendered two runs in the fourth, seven in the fifth, and then six more in the sixth frame. L-C State ultimately scored once more, resulting in the 17-run loss for Corban.
For the game, L-C State outhit Corban, 19-9.
Rosas and Martin both led the way with a pair of hits for the Warriors in the defeat.
Corban (10-11) begins a brand new season next weekend when the Warriors travel back to Idaho to take on the College of Idaho in their first NAIA-West games of the 2015 campaign. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 12 p.m., while Sunday is set to start at 11 a.m.
