LEWISTON, Idaho – The Corban University baseball team delivered fantastic performances on the mound against No. 4 Lewis-Clark State (23-1), but the offense was unable to back the strong pitching as the hosts took both games of the doubleheader by scores of 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
Corban got stellar starts from veteran right-handers Zack Simon and Nate Martin. The electric LCSC offense had only been held under five runs in one of their first twenty-one games of the 2022 campaign. Furthermore, it was the first time the LCSC attack had been limited to three runs or less in a doubleheader since the 2019 Corban Warriors swept a doubleheader at Harris Field while holding LC to one run in each game.
"The pitching staff was great today and it was very disappointing we couldn't do enough offensively to win the ballgames," said skipper Derek Legg.
Simon got the start in game one of the afternoon, as he matched up with LC left-hander Dawson Day. In a game that took just two hours, the two starters traded punches and retired batters quickly their first time through the order.
It was the host Warriors who struck first with an Aidan Nagle two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third inning.
After Day retired the Corban side in order, the LC Warriors tallied another run on a two-out homer by veteran Matt James to put LCSC up 2-0.
From that point on, both starters worked six complete innings, each allowing just one hit from the fourth inning on to keep the score locked at 2-0.
Both squads turned to the bullpen in the seventh inning with Corban calling on right-hander James Arend, while LC brought on veteran G.T. Blackman.
Arend would turn in two stellar innings, allowing just one runner to reach on a walk in the seventh inning.
The Navy and Gold took some solid swings off Blackman looking to add a number on the scoreboard for the first time on the day. Corban's best chance came in the eighth inning as Morgan Hostetler walked with one out and backstop Keenan O'Brien followed that with a base hit to centerfield. With men at first and second, freshman Ryan Clay flew out to center and veteran infielder Estenio Sede flew out to the warning track in deep right field to end the threat.
Blackman would allow a two-out double to Kairos Torres-Umi in the ninth inning, but the Warriors again failed to score ending the contest at 2-0.
Game two was a familiar story as righty Nate Martin delivered one of the best starts of his career in Navy and Gold, but the Corban offense couldn't muster the big hits when they needed to back the strong performance.
Martin went seven strong innings, allowing just six hits and one run, while striking out three. Veteran Jacob Bowser tossed the eighth inning and tallied another zero. As was aforementioned, it was the first time this season LCSC was held to one run or less in a game.
After both starters game through their first inning scoreless, LC struck first in the bottom of the second with an opposite-field, solo home run from Matt James.
That score would eventually hold as the Corban offense was dormant again for the remainder of the contest.
Corban had an opportunity to add a run in the top of the fourth as Kyle Clay (3-4, 2B) and Sede hit back-to-back singles, but LC starter Drake Borschowa was able to strand the potential tying runs.
The last chance for Corban came in the eighth inning when Umi reached on a throwing error with two outs. Brian Landon would follow that with an infield single, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Unfortunately, the LC staff again came up in the clutch as Bryson Spagnuolo struck out the Corban hitter to thwart the comeback attempt.
It was a day that encompassed the Warrior season to date as the pitching staff allowed just three runs on twelve hits across their sixteen innings of work against one of the top offenses in the nation. On the other hand, the Corban offense was shutout in back-to-back contests for first time since 2019.
Corban (9-8-1) will look to get all facets of their game clicking at the same time next weekend as they play host to Eastern Oregon University next Saturday and Sunday at Volcano Stadium. The games will serve as the final mandated non-conference series before the Navy and Gold open up Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
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