PORTLAND, Ore. – After leading for almost two-thirds of the afternoon, a late-game home run cost the Corban University Baseball team (7-19, 1-3) with an opportunity to take their lone non-conference matchup with NCAA DIII Lewis & Clark College (20-7, 9-5) on the Pioneers field, falling 3-2 in a full nine innings.
"We just let too many opportunities slip away early in the game and it came back to bite us down the stretch," Warriors' Head Coach Ethan Bragg stated shortly after their contest with the Pioneers. "We're looking forward to another great match up in CCC play this weekend against Bushnell."
The Warriors struck first in the top of the second inning, as sophomore second baseman Elijah Maris doubled to start the inning and then scored two batters later via a first and third scenario where junior designated hitter Chris Grayson baited a throw in an attempt to steal second successfully, allowing Maris to trot home with ease.
Lewis & Clark tied the game two frames later in the bottom of the third inning, as a bases loaded scenario for the Pioneers resulted in a run to score thanks to a fielding error, but that's all Corban would surrender as junior relief pitcher Bryce Bridge secured two-straight outs and closed out the first third of the game tied at 1-1.
Maris picked up yet another double with one out in the top of the fourth, scoring on the next at-bat as senior center fielder Brad Pellkofer singled up the middle to give Maris another run scored and the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
The Pioneers flipped the scoreboard on the Warriors in the bottom of the seventh inning, as third baseman Jack Thomson just barely eked a two-run homer over the glove of Pellkofer at the center field fence to give the home team a 3-2 advantage, needing just six outs to secure the midweek victory.
Despite multiple opportunities throughout the final four innings, Corban was unable to add any runs to their final line totals, dropping the contest 3-2 in their final non-conference game of the 2023 regular season.
After three Warriors combined to allow just one run on four hits with five strikeouts in the first 5.2 innings of action, junior relief pitcher James Arend was credited with the loss after allowing the two-run bomb to Thomson, while redshirt sophomore submarine arm Trevor Szczepanek pitched the final inning and allowed only one hit.
Pios' starter Noah Ferruggia took home the no decision after 5.1 innings of two-run, three-hit baseball with three walks, while relief pitcher Nathan Kerr earned the win as the most recent pitcher to take the rubber before they flipped the lead on Corban. Relief pitcher Brennen Davis clinched his second save of the year in a one-two-three top of the ninth to secure the win for Lewis & Clark.
Maris was the only Warrior with a multi-hit afternoon, smashing a pair of doubles and scoring both Corban runs in the process. Pellkofer nabbed another hit and an RBI to cap off the Navy and Gold's offensive recap.
Thomson had all three Pioneer' RBI today, while shortstop Brandon Gonzaga tallied two hits in three at-bats. Lewis & Clark spread out three more base knocks over three other student-athletes.
Corban Baseball returns to their home field this upcoming weekend, as they're set to host I-5 rival Bushnell University (16-9, 4-0) in the second Cascade Collegiate Conference series of the regular season beginning on Saturday at 12pm PDT.
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