KEIZER, Ore. – Thanks to a dominant pitching performance from the Corban University baseball team on Wednesday at Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Stadium, the Warriors shut down Willamette University in a 5-0 non-conference triumph. The victory gives the Navy and Gold the season split with the cross-town rival Bearcats.
The shutout is Corban's fifth of the year, and it was a complete team performance. Sophomore Luke Dusenbury (Central Point, Ore.) made his first career appearance and garnered the start for the Warriors, tossing four innings of no-hit baseball, allowing no runs while striking out two. Coming on in relief and earning the win was freshman Jonathan Russomano (Tarzana, Calif.), as he threw two innings while allowing just one hit and striking out one.
Senior righty Daniel Gober (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) followed up those two with two more innings of shutout ball, while freshman David Yoppini (Spokane, Wash.) finished the game off in the ninth frame, allowing no Willamette (17-16) hits while completing the shutout for Corban.
The Warrior foursome allowed just three hits in the win to a team that racked up eight hits and six runs just last week against the Warriors.
"It was a good win with strong contributions from very young players," said Corban head coach Jeff McKay. "Luke Dusenbury threw very well in his collegiate debut, and Zach Penrod tallied three hits including his first home run, all of which were key. David Yoppini closed it out well in the ninth."
At the plate, the Warriors took the lead in the fourth inning via an RBI groundout from junior first baseman Alex Storaci (Kennewick, Wash.).
The game remained 1-0 until the seventh inning when Corban freshman right fielder Zach Penrod (Nampa, Idaho) launched his first career home run, blasting it over the right field fence to put the Warriors up 2-0.
Later in the inning, junior Jackson Smith (Salem, Ore.) laced a double down the right field line, and the Warriors eventually made it 3-0 heading into the eighth.
Penrod tallied another RBI in the eighth frame, looping an RBI single down the left-field line, and then junior shortstop Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) lined an RBI single to center, making it 5-0 and sealing the deal.
Penrod finished the game with a 3-for-4 showing at the dish with two RBI and one run scored. In addition, Rosas went 2-for-3 with the one RBI and one run scored for the Navy and Gold.
Following the contest, Penrod and Dusenbury talked about the victory:
"We competed well defensively in all areas," said McKay. "It was a good win to give us momentum into a very key home weekend conference series. This young team has gone through the learning curve and is now ready to play with efficiency in all areas. The UBC starting pitching is as good or the best in the country, so we will need to be at our best offensively, and we need our fan support to help us. Come out and enjoy the good weather and cheer on the guys! Go Warriors!"
Corban (14-19) returns to the diamond this weekend for a big series with the University of British Columbia on Friday and Saturday. Friday's first pitch is set for 1 p.m. and all games of the series will be played at Volcanoes Stadium. Stay tuned at CorbanWarriors.com for further information.
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