KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team clinched a berth into the NAIA West Conference tournament with two wins over Oregon Tech on Friday night.
After winning game one in dramatic walk-off fashion, the Warriors rode a dominant pitching performance from Caleb Henry to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Game 1: Corban 6, Oregon Tech 5 (10 innings)
Oregon Tech jumped out in front early in game one, when Owl catcher Louis Wolf laced a double to score Matthew Moorehead in the top of the second inning.
The Owls used a pair RBI singles by Loren Cutolo and Kai Fong in the top of the fourth to increase the lead to three, and then added two unearned runs in the top of the fifth frame to make it 5-0 in favor of the squad from Klamath Falls, Ore.
Oregon Tech starting pitcher Tyler Bennett shut down Corban's offense for the first six innings, but the Warriors eventually broke through when Zach Penrod (Nampa, Idaho) ripped a two-run double into the right-center field gap to get on the scoreboard. Alex Storaci (Kennewick, Wash.) came up and knocked in another run to cut the lead to 5-3.
The navy and gold jumped back on the bats in the bottom half of the eighth inning, loading the bases with nobody out for Braden Wolgamott (Bellevue, Wash.), who stepped up and hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one. Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) then came through with a huge RBI single to left field to tie the game, which would eventually go into extra innings.
After a scoreless ninth inning on both sides, Corban entered the bottom of the tenth frame with the score still knotted at five. Three hits off Owl reliever Carson Miller loaded the bases, and Penrod came to the plate and delivered once again, smashing a grounder past the drawn-in infield and sending the Warriors to a 6-5 walk-off victory.
Connor Mattison (Salem, Ore.) started the game for Corban and threw four innings, allowing three runs (all earned) while striking out two. Bennett allowed five runs (all earned) in eight innings for the Owls.
The Warrior bullpen was once again the highlight of the day in this one, as four Corban relievers combined to throw six innings of relief without allowing an earned run. Jarett Thoren (Nampa, Idaho) tossed the final two innings and earned the win, while Miller was saddled with the loss.
We overcame our biggest conference deficit of the year," said head coach Jeff McKay. "It was especially nice to clinch our fifth straight postseason appearance on a walk-off. Zach Penrod has been hot with the bat recently and came up big today. The bullpen was again key in holding us close until we could string some hits together."
Penrod paced Corban offensively with three hits and three RBI, while Kai Fong and Louis Wolf each tallied three base knocks for Oregon Tech.
Game 2: Corban 7, Oregon Tech 0
Corban jumped out ahead early in game two, scoring on an RBI single by Hayden Calvert (Canberra, Australia) in the first inning. After notching another run in the second frame, the Warriors added two more in the fourth, when Vince Gonzalez laced an RBI single before Jalen Garcia (Billings, Mont.) crushed his first career home run over the left-center field wall.
In the fifth, Corban added two more, thanks to an RBI single by Tyler Reitz (Billings, Mont.) and a double-steal that allowed Kyle Kilian (Prosser, Wash.) – who had singled earlier in the inning – to score. The Warriors took advantage of their speed on the base paths, stealing four bases in the fifth inning. A sacrifice fly by Jessup Scott (Lewiston, Idaho) in the bottom of the sixth frame closed out the scoring, and it was smooth sailing from then on.
The most notable performance of the evening was undoubtedly Corban's starting pitcher Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.), who notched his best performance of the year, hurling six shutout innings while allowing only two hits and striking out a career-best 14 Owl hitters. He earned the win on the day, while Austin Holmes (Mount Lake Terrace, Wash.) earned the save with three shutout innings in relief.
John Schulz suffered the loss for Oregon Tech, allowing six runs (all earned) in five innings of work. Wes Loy pitched two innings of relief, and Tyler Snider finished the game out for the Owls with a scoreless inning of work.
Garcia and Gonzalez both tallied three hits for Corban, while Evan Johnson and Matthew Moorehead had a pair of hits apiece for Oregon Tech.
"In game two we extended our season shutout record," McKay continued. "We seem to be peaking at the right time as we have won 8 in row. It was good having freshman Jalen Garcia back and getting his first collegiate home run. Caleb Henry gave us another quality start. This team is looking forward to sending the seniors out tomorrow in a special way."
The Warriors (22-21, 17-12 NAIA West) will take on the Owls (16-33, 7-22) again on Saturday morning in their final home doubleheader of the season. It will be Senior Day for Corban, and the first pitch is at 10 a.m. at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Ore. Live stats and video will be available.
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