SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Corban University baseball team split their doubleheader against Ottawa University-Arizona on Friday afternoon. The Warriors dropped game one 11-4, but rode a dominant night from ace Zack Simon to a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. The right-hander recorded 12 strikeouts in just six innings of work to propel the squad to a victory.
"Our pitchers did a great job of committing to their plan," said Head Coach Derek Legg. "We still have areas to improve across the board, but the competitiveness and comradery of this group with take them a long way."
The first game of the day for the Navy and Gold started well with a leadoff homerun by Tyler Covalt to jumpstart the offensive attack.
The Warriors got a solid four innings of work from starter Mason Shaw, whose only blemish on the outing was a 3-run home run by OUAZ's Anthony Salazar to put the spirit up 4-1.
The Navy and Gold fought back to tie the game at four in the fifth inning with and RBI-groundout by Dillon Mickalson and a clutch two-out, 2-RBI double by Cale Thompson.
Unfortunately, things quickly spiraled from there as the Warriors committed four errors in the last four innings and eventually fell by a final score of 11-4. Thompson, Kairos Torres-Umi, and Maxwell Jeffrey all delivered multi-hit games in the defeat.
The Warriors turned the ball over to their ace, reigning CCC Pitcher of the Year, Zack Simon in game two and he delivered from the first pitch. The electric right-hander sat down the first 11 men he faced, striking out eight of them, including six in a row at one point.
The Warriors would give Simon all the lead he needed in the 3rd inning. After a one out walk by catcher Keenan O'Brien, courtesy runner Aidan Bunn stole second base to plant himself in scoring position. Newcomer Brad Pellkofer laced a ball to first base which was misplayed, and Bunn came around to score. Pellkofer then worked his way around the base paths and scored on a wild pitch to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead.
A much-needed insurance run was tacked on in the fifth inning with a clutch, two-out knock by veteran utilityman Maxwell Jeffrey, his fourth hit of the afternoon.
With a lead in tow, Simon continued his fantastic evening allowing just four hits in the contest. In his final inning of work, OUAZ threated with runners at first and third and no outs following an error and a single. Simon delivered again in the clutch inducing a 6-4-3 double play and striking out a hitter looking to end the threat and his night.
In all, the veteran tallied six innings of work, allowed zero earned runs, and struck out 12.
After six strong from Simon, the Navy and Gold turned to James Arend to lock down the save in the final inning. Arend danced around two walks and a single by inducing a double play ball and striking out the final batter of the game two cement the 3-1 victory.
The Warriors (3-3-1) return to the diamond tomorrow at 11 a.m MT to wrap up their set with OUAZ. Tomorrow's contest will take place on Rangers Field 4.
