KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University baseball team celebrated its eight seniors—Drex Davis, Connor Cole, Richard Cotto, Kyler Elliott, John Dodson, Ben Ross, Jonathan Russomano, and Daniel Freiburger—prior to today's doubleheader with NCAA Division II foe Academy of Art University. The Urban Knights spoiled the celebration, walking away with a pair of wins (13-7 and 7-6) as the Navy and Gold concluded its regular-season regiment. 

"Today was a fun day to watch the seniors play," said head coach Derek Legg. "We played two tough games and we enjoyed competing together."

Zackary Simon got the start on the mound in game one for the Navy and Gold, and was immediately forced to work out of trouble. Academy of Art rattled off three hits in the first, scoring a run and placing runners on the corners with just one out. Simon was able to navigate the threat, however, inducing a 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam.

In the bottom half of the frame, Urban Knight starter Mason Vairhees struggled with command, handing out four free passes. One of those came with Nate Cantonwine at the plate and the bases loaded, resulting in Corban's first run.

The Warriors would get two more in the bottom of the third, as Ross celebrated his last home game with a no-doubt two-run blast over the left-center fence, advancing his season total to eight.

The Urban Knight offense would come out with a vengeance in the next half-inning, however, rattling off six straight hits to erase the deficit and take the lead. Michael Northrop entered in relief of Simon, eventually inducing a bases-loaded double play and subsequent ground out to halt the Urban Knights' half-inning run total at five.  

An RBI single by Freiburger helped the Navy and Gold scratch one back in the bottom of the fourth, but Academy of Art reliever Ben Clegg managed to strand the bases loaded to limit the damage.

After the visitors plated an insurance run in the fifth, the Warriors trailed by three heading into the seventh. Brendan Yawn made it a one-run deficit with one swing of the bat, blasting a two-run shot over the left field fence to bring in Cantonwine.

A single from Cole—the first knock of his career—and a base hit from Josh Ebert put runners on the corners for the Warriors with two outs. With one out left, Estenio Sede scalded a grounder to the shortstop Justin Summers, who was unable to corral the hot shot. David Yoppini—who pinch ran for Cole—scored on the error, capping off the dramatic seventh-inning comeback and forcing extra innings.

The rally would end up going to waste, however, as Academy of Art combined for six runs in the top of the eighth to capture its second extra-inning triumph in as many days.

The visiting Knights would carry that momentum into game two, throwing up two spots in the first, second, and fourth innings against Warrior starter Michael Bennett.

Cole collected the first RBI of his career in the third, dropping a run-scoring single into right to bring home the Warriors' first run. Davis—making his Warrior debut—then followed suit, tallying his first collegiate hit and RBI on a single into left.

The senior from University Place, Wash. would then register another hit and RBI in the sixth, wrapping a run-scoring double inside the third base bag to plate Nicholas Healey. It would be the first of four runs for Corban in the half inning, as a wild pitch and two passed balls helped the Navy and Gold pull within one heading into the final frame.

It wouldn't be enough in the end, however, as Academy of Art reliever Jayson Summers successfully stranded the tying run at second base in the seventh, sealing the doubleheader sweep.

Despite the two losses, the Warriors witnessed a number of joyous moments throughout the day, highlighted by Cole and Davis' first-career knocks, and Ross' booming Senior Day big fly. The games have no effect on Corban's postseason fate, as the Navy and Gold will now look ahead to the California Pacific Tournament (May 5-7) down in Mesa, Ariz.

"A new season begins tomorrow," added Legg, talking about the upcoming postseason slate. "We can't wait to start practice next week and prepare for the conference tournament."