KEIZER, Ore. – Due to wet conditions at Warrior Field, the Corban University baseball team took on NCAA Division III opponent, Pacific University (Ore.), at nearby Volcanoes Stadium, and after falling behind early, the Navy and Gold was unable to mount a large enough comeback in a 4-3 defeat against the Boxers. With the loss, it means the two teams split the season series after Corban won the first time the two teams played back in early March, 8-0.
Volcanoes Stadium is the home of the Class 'A' Short Season Affiliate Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Volcanoes are a part of the San Francisco Giants' Minor League system.
Pacific nabbed the early lead against the Warriors, racking up four hits in the second frame while scoring three runs.
Senior second baseman Ben Straka (Eugene, Ore.) and freshman left-fielder Chase Swainston (Nampa, Idaho) built some momentum for Corban in the third inning, notching back-to-back hits to lead off the frame. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) followed that up with a base knock up the middle to load the bases. A couple of batters later, Straka would come in to score for Corban via a sacrifice fly from junior right-fielder Nic Coffman (Portland, Ore.). That would be all the Navy and Gold would score that inning, however, leaving the game at a two-run deficit heading into the fourth frame.
Some good defensive play got the Warriors out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, as Coffman caught a fly ball near the foul line in right field and gunned down a Boxer baserunner at third base to end the frame, keeping Pacific off the board.
The Navy and Gold tried to get something going in the sixth with a two-hit two-out rally, but Corban was unable to take advantage, leaving both base runners stranded.
Scoreless relief pitching from junior pitcher Ryan Wood (Meridian, Idaho), sophomore pitcher Daniel Aranda (Lebanon, Ore.), and sophomore pitcher Dallas Broge (Huntington Beach, Calif.) kept the Navy and Gold in the ballgame through the middle innings. Offensively, Corban got another runner into scoring position in the eighth, but once again, the key hit did not come.
Leaving those runners stranded would prove costly, as Pacific added another in the ninth via an RBI walk, extending its advantage to two runs.
Senior Stockton Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) gave Corban life in the bottom of the ninth, launching a solo homerun over the left-field fence to cut the deficit to just one. The Warriors eventually got a runner to third base with two outs, but Pacific made a sliding catch in left field to end the game, resulting in the one-run defeat for Corban.
In the loss, the Warrior pitching staff tied its season high with 12 walks.
At the dish, Rosas recorded a pair of hits, while sophomore designated hitter Benjamin Liogon (Culiacaa, Mexico) also got on base via a pair of hits during the contest.
For Pacific (16-18), Nate Montgomery earned the win, going six innings on the mound while giving up just one run on five hits while striking out six.
Corban (21-24) returns to action this weekend when it travels to the University of British Columbia for a four-game NAIA-West series. First pitch on Friday is set for 12 p.m.
