LANCASTER, Calif. – After being forced to play three games today due to poor field conditions at The Hangar yesterday, the Corban University Baseball team couldn't find the late-game momentum they needed to avoid a tripleheader sweep at the hands of the University of Antelope Valley.
"Tough day at the baseball field today," Corban head coach Ryan Harris stated. "We'd strike early and then have a shutdown inning but then UAV would respond with a shutdown inning of their own and then answer back. But adversity is part of life, and we as a team need to figure out how to respond and get momentum back into our dugout. It doesn't take a hero, it takes an army. We'll take things one pitch at a time and continue to try our best with our best effort. It doesn't get any easier as we go on the road to Jessup next weekend. We'll learn from today and prepare for the next opportunity."
GAME 1 – UAV 6, Corban 2 (7 Innings)
Senior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer wasted no time in getting the Warriors (1-6) a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he blasted a triple into deep right-centerfield to score junior designated hitter Nathaniel Gutierrez all the way around from first base.
The Pioneers (4-2) flipped the scoreboard in the bottom of the second thanks to back-to-back RBI singles, taking a 2-1 lead on their home field in the first of three shortened games. Corban would threaten more offense again immediately in the top of the next frame, but eventually left runners stranded on the corners.
Antelope Valley tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, both with two outs to stretch their scoreboard advantage to three runs and over half of the game being played out already. The Warriors continued to get runners on base via walks and hits in the top half of each inning but kept coming up just short in bringing them around to score.
After the Pioneers added two more runs in the top of the fifth via a sacrifice fly and RBI double, essentially putting the Corban offense in too deep of a hole to dig themselves out of with only two innings to go. Sophomore second baseman Brady Majewski doubled in the top of the sixth to score redshirt sophomore catcher Joshua Miyazawa to score the final run of game one.
Senior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits through 4.1 innings of action, walking one batter and striking out another in the process. Freshman relief pitcher Gabriel Prater came in for the final 1.2 innings to secure the last five out for the Warriors, allowing one hits and walking two hitters.
Pellkofer and junior rightfielder Noah Owens each had multi-hit days in the opening contest of the tripleheader with two hits apiece, while Gutierrez slashed a single and reached base two more times by drawing walks. Majewski and Pellkofer picked up the only RBI for Corban to start the long day of collegiate baseball.
Antelope Valley's starting pitcher Tyler Deyoung won his first decision of the 2024 season today by allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six Warriors and walking three more in 5.0 innings pitched. Relief pitcher Boston Souza held Corban to three hits and another run in the last 2.0 innings of the game.
Pioneers' rightfielder Nate Guidara and leftfielder Danny Rodriguez each tallied a pair of hits in game one with Rodriguez posting a game-high two RBI. First baseman Luke Carr scored two runs on his own to lead all players in the category.
GAME 2 – UAV 5, Corban 3 (7 Innings)
Just like in game one, the Warriors hopped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as junior third baseman Ryan Clay singled to lead off the frame and worked his way to third base with a pair of stolen bases and scored with two outs on a single by redshirt sophomore junior catcher Hayden Wilson.
Carr singled with a runner in scoring position the very next opportunity for UAV in the bottom of the second, tying the contest at 1-all. However, Pellkofer launched yet another extra base hit in the third to break the tie once again, as Gutierrez hustled home from second base to provide the Warriors with a 2-1 advantage.
The Pioneers once again flipped a one-run deficit into a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs with two outs thanks to a single by leftfielder Nick Bello that scored runners from second and third base. Their lead was increased in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff home run by centerfielder Noah Blythe and a combination triple/sacrifice fly to take a 5-2 lead and chase the Warriors' starting pitcher from the contest.
In the top of the sixth, Corban earned a run back with Wilson singling home another run in the form of graduate student first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui, cutting the lead to 5-3 with one inning of at-bats remaining. However, Antelope Valley was able to hang secure the final three outs they needed to take the series at minimum today with game three set to start shortly after.
Junior southpaw Hayden Van Acker was solid for three out of his 4.0 innings pitched, but ultimately received the loss after allowing four total runs on seven hits, two walks, and a strikeout. Sophomore relief pitcher Aidan Bray surrendered a single run off one hit in 2.0 innings of work out of the bullpen.
Wilson led the offense in game two with a perfect 3-for-3 performance and a pair of RBI, while Gutierrez secured another two-hit contest with a run scored. Pellkofer was responsible for the only other RBI in the second game of today's tripleheader, his third-straight game with at least one RBI.
After a spotty start, Pioneers' starting pitcher Caleb Ruiz settled in to pick up the win after allowing two runs off six hits and striking out six batters in 4.0 innings, while relief pitcher Isaiah Figueroa picked up a 3.0 inning save with a run and two hits on his final stat line.
Carr and shortstop Ethan Hagan led the home team with two hits apiece, while Bello tacked on another two RBI to his daily totals. Five different Antelope Valley student-athletes accounted for the team's five total runs in game two.
GAME 3 – UAV 18, Corban 6 (7 Innings)
For the third-consecutive game, the Warriors scored first thanks to a one-run double by Ka'ahanui that scored Clay from third base. Keeping the trend of the first two games, UAV then tied the game in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to keep everyone at The Hangar entertained with another knotted ballgame.
Antelope Valley jumped out in front in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs crossing the plate on a single, double, and another single on consecutive at-bats to take a 4-1 lead before catcher Amir Pineiro blasted a three-run homer to open up a six-run lead prior to the midway point of the series finale.
The Pioneers and Warriors exchanged a 11-4 run differential over the final three innings to secure a tripleheader sweep for Antelope Valley, as the home team flipped their 1-2 overall record into a 4-2 mark in just one day's worth of games.
Ka'ahanui slashed a three-hit game to lead the Corban offense in the Warriors final game down in Lancaster, while Pellkofer registered another two hits and a run scored. Wilson and freshman leftfielder Lucas Mertlich joined Ka'ahanui in the RBI lead with two apiece.
After a collegiate opening win last weekend, Williamson was shaken up for seven runs off seven hits in 3.0 innings pitched, while relief pitcher Sam Greenhalgh and Joe Licari combined for the final 3.0 innings and allowed 11 more runs on eight hits and four walks.
Six different Pioneers secured two hits in their 12-run rout of the Warriors, with Pineiro racking up a respectable six RBI and rightfielder Ryder Lundahl adding three runs scored and three RBI in just two at-bats.
Pioneers' starting pitcher Josiah Nickel earned the win after pitching through the first 4.0 innings with a single run and two hits allowed while racking up a trio of strikeouts. Relief pitchers Tate Daring and Anthony Rubio closed out the program's third win of the day with a combined six hits that led to five Corban runs.
The Navy and Gold will venture back to Oregon and make their third-consecutive trip to California next weekend, as they're set to play a four-game slate with Jessup University (6-1) beginning on Friday at 11am.
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