LEWISTON, Idaho – The program's best pitching performance of the 2023 season allowed the Corban University Baseball team (6-16, 1-1) to secure a day one doubleheader split with the No. 3-ranked Lewis-Clark State College Warriors (16-4, 1-1), as a 15-5 game one final score in eight innings to the home team was followed by a masterful starting pitcher appearance for the Navy and Gold in a 7-1 game two victory.

"Today was a good split for our program," Corban Head Coach Ethan Bragg shared shortly after splitting a pair of games with an historically competitive team. "We didn't control the momentum well in game one, but we responded incredibly well in game two."

Bragg carried on with his analysis by saying, "Bryce and Trevor stayed with their plan on the mound, and our hitters all delivered gritty at-bats in big situations. I'm proud of the effort in game two, and excited to watch us repeat it tomorrow."

Game 1 – LC State 15, Corban 5

The No. 3-ranked Warriors didn't take long to introduce themselves at the start of CCC play, utilizing a six-run first inning with four total home runs, including three-run bomb from second baseman Pu'ukani De Sa that was followed with three-straight solo homers.

Despite falling behind by six runs early, Corban managed to avoid the shutout the very next inning thanks to a hit by pitch and walk that put runners on first and second with no outs, followed by back-to-back groundouts that scored sophomore second baseman Elijah Maris and give the visiting Warriors a 6-1 deficit.

Lewis-Clark State quickly earned that six-run lead back in the bottom of the second, scoring on a double to deep left field from catcher Sam Olsson that scored a runner from first base, but was gunned down by junior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer at third base to end the inning 7-1 in favor of LC State.

The NAIA Top 25 Coaches' poll-ranked host added three more runs that were spread out over the bottom of the third, fifth and sixth innings, as a passed ball with a runner on third base, another solo home run for centerfielder Carter Booth, and an RBI single from Sa raised the advantage to 10-1 in a game that Lewis-Clark State was threatening to run rule.

LC State added another run in the bottom of the six to put the seventh inning run rule into effect, but the visiting Warriors had other thoughts on when this game would conclude. A single from sophomore designated hitter Scott Artzer with Maris on third base would nullify the run rule and send us to the bottom of the seventh in a nine-run ballgame.

After Lewis-Clark State went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, Corban capitalized with a three-run eighth inning with multiple singles and a triple to right field from junior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer, allowing what was once a double-digit lead to now sit at 11-5 in favor of the hometown Warriors.

However, LC State was able to force the run rule in the bottom of the eighth inning with three runs scored, securing the 15-5 win on their home field.

Corban junior starting pitcher Preston Johnson was tagged for nine runs off nine hits in 4.2 innings pitched, striking out four LC State batters and walking five. A quartet of Corban relief pitchers combined for the final 3.0 innings, allowing six runs on four hits and walking four hitters.

Lewis-Clark State starting pitcher Dallas McGill picked up his second win on the year by allowing just one run on no hits, striking out five batters and walking a pair. Three relief pitchers came out of the LC State bullpen to give up the no-hitter opportunity, allowing four runs on five hits.

Artzer's two RBI led the visiting squad offensively with a solo hit, while Maris scored two runs on one hit from the cleanup spot of the lineup.

LC State blasted five homers by four different batters, with two coming off the bat of Booth to lead a stout lineup from top to bottom. Sa's four RBI was the game-high in the category, while Booth and third baseman Dominic Signorelli each crossed home plate on three occasions.

Game 2 – Corban 7, LC State 1

Lewis-Clark State struck first once again in game two, scoring on a fielder's choice that allowed Booth to come all the way around from second base to score after a throwing error granted him free passage to home plate.

However, the Navy and Gold responded the very next inning via some small ball opportunities, as junior shortstop Aidan Bunn drew a walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a single by senior catcher Keenan O'Brien, and then scored via a sacrifice bunt by sophomore third baseman Ryan Clay to tie the game at 1-1.

After holding the host Warriors scoreless through the next inning, the visiting Warriors exploited the LC State defense once again in the top of the sixth inning thanks to back-to-back singles from Maris and junior right fielder Chris Grayson, as Grayson's single allowed Maris to sprint all the way home after Lewis-Clark State's Olsson had a throwing error on the same play. Grayson then scored three batters later thanks to some clever basepath running by Clay, as he attempted to steal second with two outs and lasted in the rundown just long enough for Grayson to sneak home from third base.

O'Brien and Clay secured another run by pairing up in the top of the seventh inning for a back-to-back triple and single, respectively, increasing the Corban lead to 4-1 against the No. 3-ranked Warriors.

As Corban junior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge was now through 7.0 innings of only allowing one run to LC State, the offense wasn't quite done tacking on incredibly meaningful runs, as a leadoff single from Pellkofer followed by a single from Artzer allowed him to advance to third base, where senior first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui then popped a long flyball into right field to score Pellkofer in a tag-up situation and increase the advantage to 5-1 at Harris Field.

For the fifth-straight inning, the Navy and Gold added to their lead in the top of the ninth, as O'Brien's leadoff single stretched all the way around the basepaths after Clay popped a two-run home run over the right centerfield fence that now stretched the lead to 7-1 and gave the visiting squad a six-run lead with three outs needed to secure the incredible road upset.

After completing a clean sheet in the bottom of the eighth inning, Corban redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Trevor Szczepanek secured the victory for Bridge by securing a four-batter ninth inning and clutching the 7-1 win against one of the highest ranked teams in the NAIA.

Bridge secured his first win of the season by tossing 7.0 innings and only allowing four hits and one unearned run to cross the plate. He struck out six batters and walked seven but was able to pitch around almost every baserunner that found their way on base. Szczepanek allowed two hits in 2.0 innings, but a solo strikeout and no walks allowed gave him a quality appearance out of the bullpen.

LC State starting pitcher Jace Hanson managed to earn a no decision after allowing the fifth inning run but was pulled after 5.0 innings and three hits allowed, splitting strikeouts and walks at three apiece. Relief pitcher Greg Blackman was responsible for the loss after getting roughed up for three runs off six hits in 2.0 innings of work, while relief pitcher Jake Green saw three more runs cross home plate under his watchful eye on five additional base hits for Corban.

Four different Navy and Gold clad student-athletes earned multi-hit performances at the plate in game two, led by O'Brien's 4-for-5 plate appearances and Clay's three-hit, four-RBI afternoon.

Booth earned another multi-hit game at the plate with two hits and scored the only run of the game for LC State, but only four of his teammates collected base knocks in an otherwise surprising lack of offense from one of the top offensive lineups in the NAIA.

The two Warrior squads will continue their series tomorrow at 11am PDT back at Harris Field for another doubleheader between the two CCC squads.

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