CALDWELL, Idaho – The Corban University baseball team completed a series split on the road against College of Idaho (COI), winning the first game on Sunday, 3-2, before falling late to the Yotes in game two, 6-3.
Game 1: Corban 3, COI 2
Corban got on the board in the top of the third inning when Benjamin Liogon (Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico) ripped a single to right field to score Davis Alderman (Kennewick, Wash.), who doubled earlier in the inning.
COI tied the score at one in the bottom half of the frame when Hunter Hanson singled to score Seth Champlin, and the score remained even until the top of the fifth, when the Warriors plated another run on an RBI groundout by Hayden Calvert (Canberra, Australia).
Corban notched its third run in the sixth inning, when Braden Wolgamott (Bellevue, Wash.) laced a leadoff double and scored on a Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) single. The Yotes added another run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Warriors held on for the one run victory.
Starting pitcher Rilyn Lewchuk (Oregon City, Ore.) hurled 6.2 innings to earn his fourth win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits. After relieving Lewchuk in the seventh inning, Jarett Thoren (Nampa, Idaho) was lights out, allowing only one hit in 2.1 innings to close out the game and earn his second save.
"It was a great effort in game one from pitchers Rilyn Lewchuk and Jarett Thoren," said head coach Jeff McKay, "We have really shown we can pitch with anyone in the league – especially our starters. It was nice for Thoren to return to his home area and hit and pitch well. His RBI single yesterday and his 3 inning save today played a big role in our success. Daniel Freiburger and Zach Penrod, who are also from southern Idaho, played well in front of their families."
Riley O'Brien suffered the loss for COI, his first of the season.
Liogon and Jalen Garcia (Billings, Mont.) each had two hits for the Warriors, while Hanson and Johnny Hyland each knocked in a run for the Yotes.
Game 2: COI 6, Corban 3
In game two, Corban jumped out ahead early, scoring on an error in the second and on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The Yotes plated a run in the sixth inning against Warrior starter Thomas Kerr (Olympia, Wash.) to cut the lead in half, but the Navy and Gold looked poised to take a series win from COI as they led 2-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth frame. A five run eighth inning by the Yotes thwarted that hope, though, and the Warriors were unable to stage a miraculous comeback in the final frame, scoring one but suffering the three run defeat.
Kerr allowed one run and struck out six in his 5.1 innings of work, and earned a no-decision. Austin Holmes (Mount Lake Terrace, Wash.) allowed two runs in two innings and suffered the loss.
Drew Klassen earned the win for the Yotes, with four innings of shutout ball in relief of starter Niall Manning.
Liogon had two hits for Corban, while Calvert and Tyler Reitz (Billings, Mont.) picked up the only other Warrior hits and Scott Weidlich (Portland, Ore.) brought in the only RBI.
Hanson and Hyland had two hits apiece for the Yotes, who racked up nine in the game.
"We had some chances early to break it open early and extend the lead in game two but we couldn't. They were 26th this week in the national ranking – a very good team; but we are not satisfied with a split to start the second half conference schedule. There is a lot more baseball to be played. We have beaten everyone in the conference. We can still make a run to one of the top seeds in the conference tournament. Two of our next three weekends are at home. We hope to play on Warrior field for they first time this year next weekend."
Corban (13-19, 9-10 NAIA West) will return home to take on cross-town rival Willamette University in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, April 6. The game will be played at Volcano Stadium in Keizer and is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available here.
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