VANCOUVER, B.C. – In the final day of play for the 2023 regular season, the Corban University Baseball team (16-30, 10-14) split a pair of contests with the Thunderbirds of the University of British Columbia (31-19, 16-8). Each team showcased their hitting prowess in a 9-5 game one final in favor of the Warriors, while the Thunderbirds took the regular season finale 9-2 with 25 combined runs being scored in the afternoon sessions. 

"While we didn't meet our goal of reaching postseason play, I'm still incredibly proud of our group for their work this season," Warriors' Head Coach Ethan Bragg shared in his final game in the Navy and Gold pinstripes. "Even with very limited access to certain facilities, typically late at night, they found a way to improve themselves individually. We established a new program record for stolen bases, continued to build on a strong foundation for our program, and competed until the end in one of the best conferences in the nation."

Bragg carried on in his final quote as the Warrior Baseball program's head coach by stating, "I'd like to personally thank our players and their families for their commitment to Corban Baseball. Through all the fundraising, team meals, and game day support, our players and their families really showed dedication and a desire to grow. I hope those outside the program truly recognize the high-character young men in our program and all they endure to succeed. I know each of them will live successful lives and impact the world in a positive way. It was a blessing to be with them throughout this season."

Game 1 – Corban 9, UBC 5

Sunday's doubleheader began with Corban taking the lead early in the first inning, thanks to an RBI double to centerfield from junior left-fielder Kyle Clay. Sophomore second baseman Elijah Maris followed by hitting a double through the left side, bringing Clay home for the second run of the game. British Columbia answered back in the same inning after first baseman Trent Lenihan hit a single to left field, sending second baseman Aaron Marsh across home plate and cutting the score to 2-1.

In the second inning, an error in the Thunderbirds' outfield provided junior shortstop Aiden Bunn and freshman right-fielder Michon Cole the opportunity to extend the lead by two more runs. The Clay brothers kept the Warriors humming offensively, scoring off consecutive RBI singles from senior designated hitter Kairos Torres-Umi and junior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer.

UBC attempted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, shortstop Mike Fitzsimmons drew a walk to force the first score of the inning. A wild pitch provided pinch runner Luciano Letteri with the chance to dash home and Lenihan drove a two RBI double to left center that put the Thunderbirds within one run.

Despite British Columbia's best efforts, Corban managed to extend their lead once again, with Bunn hitting a single to centerfield that scored Cole. Junior pinch hitter Reese Fawley sealed the win with an RBI double in the ninth, allowing Maris and Ryan Clay to force a final score of 9-5.

Sophomore starting pitcher Hayden Van Acker was impressive from the mound, tossing two strikeouts and allowing four hits in his second win of the season. Redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Trevor Szczepanek closed out the final 3.2 innings without allowing a single run, an effort that would earn Szczepanek his fourth save of the season.

Four different Thunderbirds pitched throughout the game, each one unable to keep the Warriors off the scoreboard. Daniel Orfaly was credited with the loss after allowing four costly runs in just 2.0 innings pitched.

Bunn showed out with three hits throughout the game, leading a Corban offense that finished with 12 total hits. Fawley had two RBI and Ryan Clay scored three runs for the Warriors.

Marsh, Lenihan, and Jonny McGill each had a pair of hits for the Thunderbirds, with Lenihan recording a game-high three RBI.

Game 2 – UBC 9, Corban 2

Game two was all Thunderbirds from the beginning, starting with a two RBI home run from designated hitter Brandon Hupe in the first inning.

The bottom of the second proved to be a huge inning for UBC, scoring six runs and extending their lead to 8-0. Marsh drove a single into right field that scored both shortstop Cameron Sanderson and third baseman David Draayers. With the bases loaded once again, McGill powered a grand slam over the fence for the Thunderbirds and filled the scoreboard with four more runs.

Catcher Ryan Young doubled to right center, allowing right fielder Kyle Anderson to reach home and make it a 9-0 after three innings of play.

Despite the early lead, both teams would go scoreless throughout four innings until Ryan Clay got Corban on the board with a two RBI homer in the top of the eighth. Clay's homerun would be the final score of the game and UBC held on for a 9-2 victory to clinch a share of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Regular Season title with Oregon Tech.

Warriors' pitchers Sam Greenhalgh, Brian Landon, and Nathan Findley each took to the mound, with Greenhalgh recording the loss after allowing six hits and eight runs to score.

It was a team effort from the Thunderbirds bullpen, with six different pitchers seeing action in the contest. Ryan Heppner was credited with the win after four strikeouts in the same number of innings pitched.

Ryan Clay stood out from the Corban batters, tacking on the Warriors only runs of the game with his two-run blast. The Navy and Gold recorded five hits in the contest.

McGill led UBC's offensive output by finishing with two hits, one of which being his grand slam in the second inning. British Columbia had eight hits coming from six different players throughout the game.

The Warriors finished the 2023 regular season with an overall record of 16-30, going 10-14 in conference play within the CCC. They graduate ten student-athletes and look to reload next year, welcoming a new chapter of Corban Baseball among their search for a new skipper that will begin promptly next week.

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