KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University baseball team faced off against Eastern Oregon University at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Ore. on Saturday for a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) doubleheader against the Mountaineers. The Warrior bats were blazing, as they combined for a total of 19 runs over the 18 innings of play. The Navy and Gold hit their way to 11-7 and 8-6 victories on day one of the two day series.

Things began in game one looking grim for Corban, as three runs were allowed to score in the second inning on an RBI groundout to short, a run-scoring double by Juan Guardado, and a steal of home by Guardado later in the frame. 

The EOU offense would dig up two more runs in the following stanza, as they benefitted from a two-run moonshot by Matt Garcia to put them up 5-0 early on.

The Navy and Gold quickly responded, scoring twice in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the Mounties' third baseman, after Zack Simon was caught in a rundown between third and home, followed up by a sacrifice fly by Nate Cantonwine, cutting the lead to just three Mountaineer runs.

The bottom of the fifth was another big inning for Corban, as they scored three runs to tie the game, started by an RBI knock by Reese Fawley. The inning was capped off by a two-run double by Morgan Hostetler. The game stayed 5-5 until the bottom of the sixth.

The bottom of the sixth was full of offense for Corban again, as Hostetler had his second RBI two-bagger of the day, and Cantonwine had a two-out two-run single into left-center field, driving in Aidan Bunn and Hostetler.

Eastern got two of those three runs back in the seventh, after the Warriors replaced reliever Trevor Szczepanek on the bump. Curl sent a grounder through the middle to drive in a pair of runs. The score was 8-7 after six-and-a-half innings.

The Warriors thwarted any hope of a comeback for EOU in the bottom of the seventh, as they had a sacrifice fly to center from Simon and then added a two-run pinch-hit triple from Chris Grayson to put a cap on the scoring for game one. The game ended 11-7 in favor of Corban.

The win was credited to Szczepanek, who tossed 3.2 innings, allowing just two runs in his outing.

Jacob Asa was credited with a save, after entering the game with an 8-5 lead in the seventh frame. He allowed no runs in his 2.1 innings of work, and struck out three Mountaineers.

Jacob Farnsworth took the loss, which was his fourth of the 2021 campaign. He pitched 5.1 innings, and allowed six earned runs (one unearned) and set down eight Warriors on strikes. He allowed five free passes on the afternoon.

Game two started in the opposite way of game one, as the Warriors struck first with a huge first frame. Hostetler drive in yet another run for Corban on an infield single to the shortstop, before Fawley came up with runners on first and second with two outs and ripped a double into the right-center gap. The double scored both Hostetler and Travis Moore to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead after one full.

Soon after, the Mountaineers jumped to action, as they scored twice in the second inning to cut the lead to just one run. Adrian Roa slapped a two-run single into right, scoring Austin Hamilton and Easton Watterson. 

Quickly responding, the Navy and Gold picked up a run in the bottom half, as they led off the stanza with a double from Grayson and followed it up with a run-scoring single from Keenan O'Brien.

The Mounties scored another in the top of the third to make it a one-run ballgame once again. A single up the middle off the bat of Hamilton scored Garcia, who had reached base on a double over the head of the Warrior left fielder Hostetler. The game remained 4-3 Corban until the top of the sixth.

Eastern Oregon rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth as Roa flicked a single into left-center field to make it a brand new ballgame heading into the final third of the game.

Luckily for the Warriors, strong seventh and eighth innings led to four runs being scored. In the seventh, Dakota Fingar smoked an RBI double into left-center field scoring pinch-runner Jack Ossenkop, before a throwing error by the EOU third baseman on an O'Brien bunt allowed Fingar to come around third base and score the second run of the frame.

The eighth inning runs came as a result of a two-run laser over the tall fence in left field off the bat of Justin Tow, which made the lead four runs heading into the ninth.

Eastern did not quit, as they grabbed a two-run homer from Matt Garcia in the top of the final frame to make it interesting. Jacob Bowser slammed the door on Hamilton, however, as he struck him out on three straight sliders to end the battle.

Bowser was credited with the victory after pitching for 3.2 innings, allowing just two runs on the Garcia homer in the ninth, and tallied three strikeouts.

The Warrior starter Nate Martin had a strong day on the hill, as he went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs and seven hits. He had four strikeouts of his own in the effort.

Nick Jennings was slapped with the loss, making his season record 2-4. He gave up five earned runs (one unearned) and struck out four across seven full innings pitched. 

The Warriors (13-25, 12-14 CCC) will be back at Volcanoes Stadium on Sunday for another twin-billing against the Mountaineers, as they hope to finish off the home sweep of CCC baseball's newest member.

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