Portland, Ore. - The Corban University baseball team tried to stay alive in the NAIA West Tournament on Saturday evening, but up against a familiar and formidable foe in The College of Idaho, the Warriors eventually fell, 5-3. The loss eliminates Corban from the tournament in addition to ending the Navy and Gold's season.

C of I jumped in front in the first frame with a run, but Corban responded with a pair of runs in the third inning. Senior first baseman Daniel Orr (Kingston, Wash.) ripped an RBI single through the right side to score senior third baseman Marc Gallegos (Astoria, Ore.) on the play. Later in the frame, senior second baseman Stockton Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) tripled to deep center field, scoring Orr all the way from first.

The Yotes answered back with a two-run homer in the fifth to take the lead, 3-2, and then added two more prior to the eighth to take a 5-2 advantage.

Trying to get a late-game rally going and keep their season alive, the Warriors got runners on base in the eighth frame. Senior center-fielder Jon Mercer (Bothell, Wash.) singled through the left side to bring Corban to within two runs at 5-3, scoring sophomore shortstop Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) on the play. For Mercer, that would be his final at-bat in a Warrior uniform, and he made it count. That would be all the Warriors would get in the frame, however.

Corban's comeback would end there, as it could not get anything going in its final chance in the ninth inning, resulting in the season-ending two-run defeat.

"It was a tough last game for the Warriors," said head coach Jeff McKay. "I am proud of the way they battled today. It was kind of a mini version of our year, so close, but could not break through. This team has had a lot of adversity this year, but we battled through it well. I am proud of this team. The seniors leave this program having made it better."

Freshman pitcher Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.) ended up with the loss for the Warriors on the mound, throwing 5.2 innings while allowing three runs and five hits, all while striking out six.

For C of I (33-26), Zach Fabricius went 7.1 innings, scattering nine hits while allowing three runs, with only two being earned.

At the dish for Corban, Gonzalez led the way with a 3-for-3 performance and one run scored, while senior second baseman Stockton Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) registered two hits in the defeat.

"I feel we have honored the Lord in the way we have played," said McKay. "We will take that with us and move on. Go Warriors!"

Corban finishes the season with a 27-29 overall record and takes fourth in the NAIA West Tournament.