KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team (3-6, 0-0) kicked off their official home opener series with a pair of loses to the Oregon Tech Owls (8-5, 0-0) at Volcanoes Stadium, falling 10-4 in game one before blowing a four-run lead in game two, 15-5.
"We need to do a better job managing the uncontrollable aspects of the game," Warriors' Head Coach Ethan Bragg shared shortly after their doubleheader. "Tomorrow is a great opportunity for us to get up off the mat and find our most competitive lineup."
Game 1 – Oregon Tech 10, Corban 4
With the Warriors' undefeated 2-0 starting pitcher in junior Nate Martin taking the mound in game one, nobody expected him to be chased after 4.0 innings of work on an off night for the first time this season, as the Owls exploded for five runs in the first three innings and their lead for the remainder of the contest to hand Martin his first loss on the season.
After OIT tacked on another pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, Corban pulled themselves out of shutout territory in the bottom half fo the same frame, as senior first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui blasted a drive deep over the right field fence that scored sophomore rightfielder Scott Artzer from first base, leading to a 7-2 deficit at the midway point of the contest.
Each squad added another pair of runs apiece in the eighth inning, with the Warriors manifesting some runs via the small ball game and finally crossing the plate on some Oregon Tech errors in a miscue riddled game, as each team combined for 10 total errors. The Owls scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning on another sacrifice fly, and held Corban to a three-up, three-down final frame to conclude their first of a four-game series.
Martin allowed a season-high 10 hits with five runs scored, while junior relief pitcher Giovanni Cervantes allowed four runs off three hits in 3.2 innings of relief for Martin. Senior righty Alex Hakes closed out the 1.1 innings remaining by allowing one run off one hit. Between the three pitchers for Corban, they amassed seven Owl strikeouts, walked two, and hit another three batters.
OIT starting pitcher Patrick Arman pitched a gem in 6.2 innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits and striking seven hitters all on his own. Relief pitchers Dylan Huddle and Ryan Poling combined for the final 2.1 innings needed to secure the victory for Arman, allowing two runs from two hits and walking a trio of Corban hitters.
Ka'ahanui's fifth inning blast was the highlight of the game for the Corban offense, while Artzer and junior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer each tallied a pair of hits, while Artzer scored a run and recorded an RBI as well.
Owls' leftfielder Ka'ala Tam batted a perfect 4-for-4 in game one, scoring two runs and earning three RBI to pace OIT to the series opening victory. Third baseman Tyler Horner also swung a heavy bat for Oregon Tech, earning three hits and scoring a trio of runs all by himself.
Game 2 – Oregon Tech 15, Corban 5
It was the Warriors turn to draw first blood in game two, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning via a single from freshman designated hitter Roger Viloria and sacrifice fly from junior right fielder Chris Grayson, as the Owls were able keep the damage to a minimal after allowing the first three Corban batters to reach base.
Oregon Tech earned a run back in the very next inning, as a double into left field off the bat of first baseman Ian Peters allowed a run to cross the plate with two outs in the frame, something the Owls would go on to score a lot of in this contest.
However, the Warriors refused to go down easily this time, as Pellkofer tripled to deep right centerfield to plate a pair of runs, then scored a run himself on the next at bat via the sacrifice bunt of junior third baseman Aidan Bunn that gave the Navy and Gold a 5-1 advantage.
While junior starting pitcher Preston Johnson was able to pitch a masterful first 4.0 innings, the fifth and final inning of his night would prove to be the most detrimental to his opportunity to earn the first victory of his season, as the Owls would light him up for four runs on just one hit in the frame, with two errors and multiple walks/hit by pitches causing major issues for the defense. Oregon Tech would go on to score four runs in the frame to tie the contest and plate another eight runs in the next frame off Warriors' sophomore relief pitcher Sam Greenhalgh.
The massive sixth inning from the Owls would be all they needed to secure the series opening day sweep, but they added two more runs over the eighth and ninth innings to lock down a 15-5 game two win.
Warriors' redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Nathan Findley tossed the final 3.0 innings to get Corban out of their slump, allowing a pair of runs on three hits and striking out a game-high five batters in the process.
After being roughed up for five runs on six hits, allowing four walks and hitting a batter through the first 4.0 innings, OIT starting pitcher Lalo Barraza was able to settle in for the final inning of 5.0 innings pitched to secure the victory after leaving in the sixth frame following his team's offensive explosion. Relief pitcher Drake Aboud pitched the final 4.0 innings of the night cap game, allowing no runs to cross the plate and just two hits to Corban batters.
Pellkofer's fifth inning triple would be the feature offensive play for the Warriors in game two, as he finished with a team-high two RBI and two runs scored. Viloria and redshirt freshman catcher Joshua Miyazawa each had two hits in the game two efforts.
Peters tallied a game-high three hits and scored two runs for the Owls, as he was one of five different Oregon Tech student-athletes to cross the plate at least twice. Third baseman Matthew Ortiz followed with two hits and two RBI.
Warrior Baseball will continue their four-game series with the Owls tomorrow morning at 11am PST, with the final game slated for a 2pm PST start time following the conclusion of game three of the weekend slate.
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