ATHERTON, Calif. – The Corban University Baseball team completed their first doubleheader of the year earlier today down in the Bay Area of California, as the Warriors dropped 13-1 and 8-5 decisions against Menlo College to kick off the 2024 regular season.
"Opening day against Menlo was a great test," Warriors' first-year head coach Ryan Harris shared earlier this afternoon. "We ran into some adversity that we as a team need to learn from. When moments are difficult, we need to learn how to overcome. As a coaching staff, we saw great moments of what we believe this team is capable of. We have a great opportunity to bounce back tomorrow."
GAME 1 – Menlo 13, Corban 1
In the Warriors (0-2) first game of the 2024 season, offense was hard to come by against the Oaks (2-0) and their top ace, righthander Anthony Tellez, who had his way with Corban over his 6.0 innings of work. Menlo spread 13 runs out over four different bottom frames, taking a four-run lead in the bottom of the third and never looked back. The Navy and Gold finally jumped on the board in the top of the eighth when senior outfielder Brad Pellkofer reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed sophomore pinch runner Michon Cole to trot home from third base.
Junior third baseman Ryan Clay kicked off his third season of collegiate baseball for the Warriors with a 2-for-4 day at the play with a pair of singles. Meanwhile, graduate student first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui matched Clay's single and raised him an extra base with a leadoff double in the top of the fifth frame.
Senior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge (0-1) accepted the loss in his first start of the 2024 season after allowing seven hits and six runs, four of which were earned, with three walks and four strikeouts in only 4.0 innings on the mound. Junior relief pitcher Sam Greenhalgh and redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Joe Licari combined for the final 4.0 defensive innings and allowed six hits and seven earned runs, while Greenhalgh racked up four more strikeouts.
Tellez kept the Warriors in check all afternoon with only four hits and a walk allowed while striking out eight Corban batters in 81 pitches. Bullpen pitcher Raul Valdivia relieved Tellez for 2.0 innings and allowed two hits and the lone Warrior run in the top of the eighth, while relief pitcher Donovan Kerr shut the door in the top of the ninth with a one-two-three inning of work.
All but the final two Oaks in the lineup registered at least one hit today against the Navy and Gold, led by second baseman Carter Harris, centerfielder DJ Scott, designated hitter Sage Pera, and rightfielder Justin Flannery who all secured multi-hit games in the top four spots of the lineup. Harris led all baserunners with four runs scored thanks to a trio of walks. Pera and Flannery both earned a pair of RBI as well, while first baseman Ethan Baird tallied two hits and a game-high five RBI.
GAME 1 – Menlo 8, Corban 5 (7 Innings)
After a nearly scoreless appearance in their opening contest, the Warriors rebounded quickly in the second game of their doubleheader with Menlo scoring four runs in the first two innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead on the road. A first-inning wild pitch resulted in a run scored by senior shortstop Aidan Bunn, while Pellkofer scored on the following play when junior leftfielder Noah Owens singled.
The following inning, the Warriors earned another pair of unconventional runs with an additional wild pitch run and a popup by junior rightfielder Fran Gross that scored Cole from third base.
However, the four-run lead wouldn't stand for long, as the Oaks hung a six-run frame on Corban in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly, two RBI-hits, a bases-loaded walk, and an unearned run scored via a fielding error to take a 6-4 lead after three innings of play.
The Navy and Gold cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth, as Owens swiped home plate on yet another wild pitch by Menlo to now trail by a single run. The Oaks stretched that lead back to two in their half of the fifth with a two-out single, then a one-out solo home run in the sixth by Pera followed by shutting down the Corban offense provided Menlo with the 8-5 final score in a seven inning game.
Owens and redshirt junior catcher Hayden Wilson registered the only hits for the Warriors in game two, while five different Corban student-athletes each scored a single run. The Navy and Gold offense drew 11 walks in the seven inning contest with Owens and Gross responsible for the two RBI.
Junior starting pitcher Hayden Van Acker kept the Oaks silent for two solid innings of work before the six-run third chased the south paw from the game, as he exited the mound responsible for six runs, three of which were earned, off three hits, four walks, and a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore relief pitcher Gabriel Prater relieved Van Acker to allow a single hit and run in 2.1 innings pitched, while sophomore relief pitcher Trey Williams pitched the final inning and saw two hits and one run score off his arm.
Every Oak was held to one or fewer hits after their offensive showcase in game one with third baseman Sean Pettener earning two RBI to lead all Menlo players. Pera, Baird, and second baseman Zach Dyer all scored two runs.
Five different pitchers took the mound for Menlo in game two, with relief pitcher Joshua Spezia earning the win after starting pitcher Landon Rowland was charged with all four of Corban's runs in the first two frames. Closer Braden Proud took home the save after allowing just one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.
Corban will return to action tomorrow afternoon against this same Menlo team, with first pitches scheduled for 11am and 2pm at Cartan Field.
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