KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team (10-24, 4-8) earned their first Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) split this afternoon at Steen Sports Park, earning a pitcher's duel victory 3-2 thanks to a phenomenal start from junior Nate Martin in game three of the weekend series with RV Oregon Tech (25-13, 12-4), before the host school exploded for a 12-2 win to even the four-game slate overall.
Warriors' Head Coach Ethan Bragg shared, "Proud of the overall effort this weekend. We need to carry some of this positive momentum with us moving forward for the final stretch of conference play over the next three weekends."
Game 3 – Corban 3, OIT 2
A groundout to third base by sophomore outfielder Scott Artzer turned double play for the Hustlin' Owls, but not before junior outfielder Kyle Clay crossed Homeplate to give Corban the 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.
With loaded bases in the top of the sixth, the freshmen first baseman Trey Williams and catcher Joshua Miyazawa each drew RBI walks that would push the Warriors advantage 3-0.
Tech managed to cut the deficit after infielder Seth Tobin ripped an RBI single up middle field, scoring outfielder Alonzo Vergara in the seventh inning. Junior Riley Cronin reached on a fielder's choice to third base, allowing left fielder Ka'ala Tam to score. A defensive stand from the Warriors made this final run of the game, hanging on for the 3-2 victory.
The Warriors relied heavily on the arm of junior pitcher Nate Martin, allowing just one run to score in eight innings played. Martin earned the win, moving to 4-3 on the year. Senior reliever Jaren Childs was credited with the save.
The Owl's Cody Dubray picked up five strikeouts but was ultimately credited with the loss after allowing four hits and one run.
Brad Pellkofer had a standout performance for the Corban team, leading the way with three hits and a run. Williams and Miyazawa each had RBI for the Warriors.
Despite the best efforts of left fielder Ka'ala Tam, Tech's ten hits were not enough to come away with the win. Tam finished with three hits and one run, with Tobin and Cronin each earning RBI.
Game 4 – OIT 12, Corban 2
After a tight race in the first contest of the day, game two was all Oregon Tech from the jump. First baseman Bryce Petrilla got the party started with a single to center field, scoring both Horner and Siracusa for the 2-0 lead. A sac-fly from outfielder Dane Bradshaw followed by an RBI single from catcher Brodie Marino pushed the lead to 4-0 by the end of the first inning.
As the game progressed, Oregon Tech continued to find gaps in the Corban's defense. RBI singles from outfielder Julien Jones and infielder Adam Jacques punched two more runs in for the Hustlin' Owls through the third inning. Two more Owls scored during outfielder Matthew Lehrbach's at-bats in the third and fifth innings, making the score 8-0 after five innings of play.
In the last two innings, Tech continued connect with the bat. Petrilla doubled down the right-field line, driving in Jones for and RBI. Tam followed with a towering homer to center field, bringing in Petrilla for two more runs and making the score 11-0 in favor of OIT.
Junior outfielder Chris Grayson fought back for the Warriors, narrowing to lead to 11-2 after a two RBI homer to left field. Despite Corban efforts, Tech secured the victory in seven innings with a final score of 12-2.
Junior pitcher Bryce Bridge picked up the loss after allowing seven runs and five hits after 2.2 innings. Bridge wasn't the only Warrior pitcher to struggle with four different pitchers allowing hits and earned runs.
Pitcher Brendan Talonen slung four strikeouts on his way to securing the win for Oregon Tech. Talonen prevented the Warriors from scoring a single run in six innings pitched.
Grayson and Pellkofer were bright spots in an otherwise rough game for the Corban batters. Grayson had two hits and RBI for the Warriors in this game with Pelkoffer recording a perfect on base percentage.
Oregon Tech scored twelve runs off of twelve hits and eleven RBI. Petrilla fueled the Owl's with three RBI and two hits. Tam was explosive from the plate, crushing a homer and recording two RBI.
The Warriors will return to Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Oregon on April 15th to face the Yotes of College of Idaho at 12pm PDT.
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