VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Corban University baseball team earned a split on the first day of the NAIA West Conference Tournament, dropping Marymount California University, 9-0, in game one before falling to Lewis-Clark State College, 7-0, in the nightcap.
Click the 'play' button on the photo above to watch highlights from the Warriors game one victory.
Music Credit: "Star of Bethlehem", (Angels and Airwaves)
Game 1: Corban 9, Marymount 0
Corban opened up the NAIA West Conference Tournament on Friday morning against the fifth-seeded Marymount California University at 10 a.m., notching 12 hits in a 9-0 victory over the Mariners.
Warrior starting pitcher Caleb Henry (Salem, Ore.) worked out of jams in the second and third innings before settling down and hurling seven scoreless innings while allowing only five hits.
The game was scoreless until Corban broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning with some two out magic from designated hitter Kyle Kilian (Prosser, Wash.), who laced a double just inside the third base bag to score Ryan Rosas (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Daniel Freiburger (Rupert, Idaho), who had both singled earlier in the inning.
In the top of the sixth frame, a bases loaded walk by Alex Storaci (Kennewick, Wash.) increased the lead to 3-0.
In the seventh, Vince Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) ripped an RBI single through the left side, and then Landon Frost (Bend, Ore.) followed that with a two-run triple down the left field line to double Corban's lead.
The Warriors notched another run in the eighth on an RBI fielder's choice by Scott Weidlich (Portland, Ore.) and then brought in two more on a two-out double by Benjamin Liogon (Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico) to finish out the scoring.
Landon Frost talked about the game in a postgame interview:
"Caleb Henry gave us exactly what we needed to help limit the use of the bullpen," said head coach Jeff McKay. "It was his longest outing of the season. The defense again was very good. Kyle Kilian and Landon Frost came up big with key RBI's."
Henry earned the win for Corban, while Adam Shumka (White Rock, B.C.) and Austin Holmes (Mount Lake Terrace, Wash.) tossed two scoreless innings in relief.
Dylan Hatch started the game for the Mariners, allowing three runs in 5.2 innings while suffering the loss. Fernando Fernandez and Jonathan Zaldivar threw 3.1 innings in relief.
Gonzalez led the Warriors offensively with three hits, including an RBI and two runs scored, Frost, Rosas, and Kilian all notched two hits apiece, while Frost, Liogon, and Kilian each had a pair of RBIs.
Six different Marymount hitters notched a hit on the day.
Game 2: Lewis-Clark State 7, Corban 0
In game two, Corban took on the top-seeded Lewis-Clark State College Warriors, and lefty Connor Mattison (Salem, Ore.) got the nod on the mound opposite LCSC righty Kevin Hamann.
After a fairly easy first frame on both sides, Mattison found himself in trouble in the second inning, with runners on the corners and nobody out. Cabe Reiten then stepped up and torched a ball right down the third base line, but Corban infielder Vince Gonzalez made a dazzling defensive play to hold the runner at third and turn a picturesque 5-4-3 double play. Mattison retired the next hitter to keep LCSC scoreless.
Stunning defensive plays by Gonzalez in the third and again in the fourth helped Mattison escape trouble, and both teams completed four innings tied at zero. Unfortunately, LCSC finally broke through in the top half of the fifth frame, taking advantage of a failed pickoff and a throwing error by Corban to notch three runs on three hits and take the lead.
LCSC scored in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings to finish out the scoring.
Freiburger had the lone hit for Corban.
"Lewis-Clark State has pitched us very well all season and today was no different," continued McKay. "They showed again why they are a national championship contender."
Corban (25-26) will take on the winner of the College of Idaho vs. Marymount game tomorrow in an elimination game. Because LCSC and the University of British Columbia both receive automatic bids to the next level, the winner of Corban's elimination matchup tomorrow will earn the third and final automatic bid to the NAIA Opening Round later this month. The game will start at approximately 4 p.m. and live stats will be available.
"We have a lot to play for tomorrow," said McKay. "The tournament sets up with by winning our game would put us into the opening round of the national tournament. We are very beat up with a lot of players out with injuries or playing with injuries. We have a chance to do what no Corban baseball team has ever done. We will be ready. Go Warriors!"
Become a fan of Corban Athletics on Facebook
Follow Corban Athletics on Twitter @CorbanAthletics
Follow Corban Athletics on Instagram: corban_athletics
Follow Corban Athletics on Snapchat: corbanathletics
Watch Corban Warrior videos on Youtube: CorbanUAthletics
Sign up for our Corban Warriors email Newsletter
#WarriorNation
