KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Corban University baseball team's bats woke up on Friday afternoon against Oregon Tech, as the Warriors scored 20 total runs en route to defeating Oregon Tech twice by the exact same score, 10-1. Not only was it the hitting, but the pitching for the Navy and Gold was stellar, as both starting pitchers threw complete games en route to the nine-run victories.
In the opener, the Owls jumped in front in the third frame and held the lead until the fifth inning when Corban provided a response in a big way, scoring a trio of runs to take the lead. Senior left-fielder Marc Gallegos (Astoria, Ore.) got the inning going with a leadoff double and eventually came in to score via a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Stockton Taylor (Brewster, Wash.). Sophomore catcher Jackson Smith (Salem, Ore.) followed up the run with a bunt single and then stole second base. He would come in to cross the plate via an RBI double from sophomore center-fielder Connor Munro (Sherwood, Ore.), and then Munro scored a batter later when sophomore shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) laced an RBI single.
Corban racked up four more hits in the sixth inning, started by a single from junior right-fielder Nic Coffman (Portland, Ore.). Coffman would eventually come in to score on a wild pitch, and then a few batters later, Taylor blasted a two-run homerun, putting the Navy and Gold in front 6-1.
The seventh inning sealed the triumph for Corban, as the Warriors tacked on four more runs for good measure, putting any Owls' late-game chances to rest. Coffman registered another RBI in the frame, and senior designated hitter Peter Martin (Toledo, Wash.) ripped an RBI single as well. Later in the inning, Taylor tallied his fourth and fifth RBI of the contest, lacing an RBI single to left field, scoring two more Warrior base runners.
With the 10-1 lead, senior pitcher Austin Guzzon (Oceanside, Calif.) was cruising on the mound, mowing down Oregon Tech batters and picking up right where he left off last week, throwing another complete game for Corban in the win. Guzzon went the distance, striking out five Owl batters while dispersing seven hits and giving up just one run on the day.
At the dish, Munro led the way with a 3-for-4 performance and one RBI, while Taylor racked up five RBI in the triumph. Also having multi-hit performances in the victory were Smith, Gallegos, Coffman, and Rosas. As a team, the Navy and Gold combined for 15 total hits.
"In game one, Connor Munro really sparked us offensively," said head coach Jeff McKay. "He had his first three hits of the year with Corban, and it was one of our best offensive games of the season, and again the defense was fantastic. Austin Guzzon was outstanding with his second complete-game performance in a row, earning the conference win."
Rosas began game two for Corban on the right note, leading the game off with a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Later in the frame, Coffman blasted a two-run shot over the fence, putting Corban on top early.
Corban tallied another in the third and the fourth frames, holding the four-run lead until the seventh when the Owls got on the board with a single run.
The Navy and Gold put the game out of reach over the course of the final two innings, however, finishing the game strong with six runs to close out the nine-run triumph. In the three-run eighth, Taylor blasted his second homer of the day and Coffman launched his second homerun of the game as well, while in the ninth, junior pinch hitter Braden Wolgamott (Bellevue, Wash.) hit a three-run shot over the wall to cap the powerful day at the plate for the Warriors.
Overall, Corban amassed 14 hits in game two, and it was Coffman who tallied a team-best 3-for-4 performance at the dish with two homeruns, three RBI, and two runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) also had a nice game, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Rosas and Taylor both also registered two hits in the win.
Freshman pitcher Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.) earned his team-leading fifth win of the 2015 campaign in game two, throwing all nine innings for the Warriors while allowing just six hits and one run. He also struck out six Owl batters along the way.
Both he and Guzzon both are now sitting under the 3.00 ERA mark for the year, with Guzzon leading the pitching staff with a 2.19 ERA, while Henry has a 2.81 ERA on the campaign.
"We worked hard this week on adjusting our offensive approach, and it really showed today with an explosion of power, especially in game two," said McKay. "Our kids really have begun to buy into the adjustment we are doing, but it can't overshadow the performance today by freshman Caleb Henry. It was his first collegiate complete game. He really pounded the strike zone all day."
Corban (19-19, 7-7 NAIA-West) returns to action tomorrow when it comes right back to Salem for a doubleheader at Warrior Field vs. the Owls (12-23, 3-11 NAIA-West) to finish up the home-and-home series. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 1 p.m. Please note that only live stats will be available for tomorrow's doubleheader.
