SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team (8-22, 2-6) was able to shake the metaphorical monkey off their backs this evening by snapping their losing streak and force a day two split with the Bushnell University Beacons (19-10, 7-1), as the Warriors snagged a 5-1 victory in game three of the series before falling 11-2 in the finale.
"It was great to salvage one game from the series this week," Warriors' Head Coach Ethan Bragg stated. "We're looking forward to another good series matchup with Oregon Tech next weekend.
Game 1 – Corban 5, Bushnell 1
In the bottom of the second inning, the Corban Warriors took an early 1-0 lead after sophomore second baseman Elijah Maris capitalized on a shortstop throwing error for the unearned run.
A single from junior left-fielder Kyle Clay kicked off the bottom of the fourth inning that would see two runs score. With bases loaded, sophomore third baseman Ryan Clay drew a walk to notch an RBI and send his brother Kyle across Homeplate for the score. A wild pitch gave freshman first baseman Trey Williams an opening, allowing him to steal a run and push the Warriors lead to 3-0.
The Warriors would go up 5-0 by the end of the sixth inning thanks to junior right-fielder Brian Landon. Landon stepped up to the plate and powered the ball over the left field fence, scoring Maris picking up the 2 RBI homerun.
Second baseman Ethan Stacy helped the Beacons get on the board with an RBI double, scoring center-fielder Peyton Hino in the sixth inning.
This would be the last run of the night due to an impressive pitching display from Bryce Bridge and relief pitcher Trevor Szczepanek, that secured the 5-1 victory. Bridge was credited with his second win of the season after allowing only one run through 6.1 innings and dealing six strikeouts. Szczpanek closed the game out allowing just one hit in the remaining innings.
Beacons Ethan Paulson and Trevor Hammond pitched four innings each, with Paulson picking up the loss after allowing three runs and five walks.
Five different Warriors recorded hits, led by Maris tallying two hits for his fourth game in a row. Landon and Ryan Clay added to the scoreboard with RBI's own their own.
Stacy was responsible for Bushnell's only RBI, recording two hits along with left-fielder Jacob Richardson. Hino, Reed, and Fraser each added a hit for the Beacons.
Game 2 – Bushnell 11, Corban 2
The Beacons stormed back in the second game of the evening, taking the lead after a homerun from first baseman Cade Crist. The left-field bomb scored both Crist and right-fielder Noah Montoya, going up 2-0 in the third inning.
The Beacons stretched their lead to three runs after designated hitter Jeff Fripp got ahold of the ball for his first homer of the season. Fripp wasn't done rounding the bases there, as he and pinch hitter CJ Smith scored unearned runs off a pair of wild pitches.
Catcher Kyle Casperson piped a RBI double down the center field in the top of the seventh, sending Fripp home for his third time of the evening. 6-0, Beacons.
After a string of walks and loaded bases, right-fielder Brendan Frazier took a pitch to the body allowing Stacy to score. Shortly after, Fripp continued to build upon his impressive performance by crushing a 3 RBI double to right-center, scoring Frazier, Crist, and Montoya. This four-run inning would give the Beacons a ten-point lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Facing a ten-run mercy rule, RBI singles from right-fielder Michon Cole and first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui kept the Warriors alive by cutting the Beacon lead down to 10-2.
Ultimately, the Beacons would extend their lead after a RBI triple from Smith in the ninth inning, sinching the 11-2 win and splitting the day with the visiting Warriors.
Corban tried five different pitchers throughout the game, finding little success. The Warriors bullpen allowed a total of twelve hits resulting in 11 earned runs. Hayden Van Acker was credited with his third loss of the season.
Adam Sabatino earned his third win of the season, pitching five innings without allowing a single run to score. Relief pitchers Trenton Hough and Jack Horn helped finish off the game throwing a combined 5 strikeouts in the remaining innings.
Thirteen players had at-bats for the Warriors, Cole and Ka'ahanui contributing with RBI's. The team's nine hits were led by catcher Joshua Miyazawa, who recorded two.
Fripp filled the Bushnell stat sheet totaling four hits, four RBI's, and three runs scored. Crist also had a big game following close behind with three hits, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Seven different Beacons recorded a hit in the contest.
The Warriors will head to Klamath Falls this Friday to face Oregon Tech (23-11, 10-2) in a four-game set, beginning at 12pm PDT.
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