LEWISTON, Idaho. – The Corban University baseball team lost both ends of a doubleheader at No. 4 Lewis-Clark State on Saturday afternoon. LCSC took the first game by final score of 11-1 in seven innings, before eventually taking the nightcap by a final of 7-4.

Game one was a struggle from the start as the host Warriors brought nine men to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Corban starter Mason Shaw bounced back with two strong innings following the rough first, before eventually running into trouble again in the fourth inning. LCSC got a solo home run from shortstop Riley Way to leadoff the inning, before tallying three more runs on three straight RBI singles to close out the frame and push their lead to 9-0.

Offensively, the Warriors struggled to get anything going against LC ace Trent Sellers. Sellers went six strong innings, allowing just four hits and punching out 10 Corban hitters. The lone Corban run came in the sixth inning as Kairos Torres-Umi knocked in Kyle Clay on an RBI single.

LCSC delivered the final blow in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2-run home run by Matt James to put LC up 11-1. Corban could not strike in the top of the seventh inning, and the game was called due to the 10-run rule.

Game two saw a more competitive contest as the Navy and Gold had their opportunities to earn an upset victory on the road. Unfortunately, some untimely defensive miscues haunted Corban in their second loss of the day.

Corban gave the ball to starter Preston Johnson who twirled his best outing of the young season. Johnson went five innings, limiting the daunting LC attack to just two runs on three hits, while striking out four.

LCSC got started the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Following a hit by pitch to start off the inning, Riley Way doubled to deep left center field to give the host Warriors a 1-0 lead.

The Corban offensive attack was held in check by LC right-hander Eric Chavarria who did not allow a hit in the first four innings. The fifth inning however, provided some fireworks for the Navy and Gold. True freshman utilityman Scott Artzer jumped on a first pitch fastball to start off the inning, hitting a screaming double off the left field wall. One hitter later, fellow true freshman Ryan Clay launched an opposite-field home run to give Corban their first lead of the day at 2-1. It was the first home run in the young career for Clay.

Corban would extend their lead the very next inning as spark plug second baseman Cale Thompson executed a perfect bunt to lead off the inning. After two quick outs, Brian Landon laced a single to center putting runners at the corners with two outs. The rookie Artzer then delivered another huge swing, this time lining a single into left field to score Thompson and extend the Corban lead to 3-1.

Unfortunately, the next inning would turn tumultuous for the Navy and Gold. The Warriors committed two errors in the inning, including one on a double play ball that would have ended the inning. Instead, LCSC struck for three runs, only one of them earned, and took the 4-3 lead after six innings.

Corban would not go quietly as their battled to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Ryan Clay reached on a hit by pitch and was moved into scoring position via a Keenan O'Brien sacrifice bunt. It was Thompson again who executed in the clutch, scoring Clay from third base with a ground ball to tie the game at 4-4.

The bottom of the seventh was more of the same for the Navy and Gold however, as their defensive woes continued. Catalyst Riley Way reached with a leadoff single for LC and moved into scoring position on a throwing error by O'Brien. Reliver Trevor Szczepanek got two big outs before eventually giving up a single to Sam Linscott that scored Way. The Warriors then had Linscott caught in a rundown at first base that would have ended the inning, but the rundown couldn't be executed. The next LC hitter, Luke White, capitalized off the Corban mistake and crushed a long home run to left field to give the hosts a 7-4 lead.

The Navy and Gold couldn't muster another comeback and eventually fell by a final score of 7-4.

A strong start from Johnson, and clutch at-bats from youngsters Scott Artzer (3-4, 2B) and Ryan Clay (1^st career HR) were bright spots from the first day of the non-conference series.

Corban (9-6-1) and LC return to the diamond tomorrow for another doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.