LINCOLN, Calif. – The Corban University Baseball team scored six runs in both game one and two of today's doubleheader with Jessup University in northern California, but allowed more on the defensive side to fall 17-6 to open the weekend before a 9-6 decision in a seven-inning game to end day one against their mascot doppelgangers.
"Game one, I thought that our energy and focus was trying to figure out what the opposing team was going to do, rather than controlling what we can control by following the game plan and attack the game," Navy and Gold head coach head coach Ryan Harris stated. "By the time we made the adjustment, it was 6-0 and we had dug ourselves too deep of a hole."
Coach Harris carried on with his analysis of today's doubleheader by sharing, "However, game two started the complete the opposite; we attacked. The individual pitching performance by Hayden was impressive. Incredibly proud of the poise and the maturity he made to make adjustments and compete. Unfortunately, in my opinion, we got a little comfortable with the lead that we had and we relaxed. Jessup took advantage, then fear crept in. No one likes to lose, but with the feeling after game two, I know that our guys will learn from it and respond tomorrow."
GAME 1 – Jessup 17, Corban 6
A six-run first inning of offense for Jessup is all the hometown Warriors needed to breeze to an eleven-run margin of victory in game one between the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) and Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) representatives. Corban was able to chip away in the fifth inning to cut the lead to five runs, but ten more runs from Jessup through the seventh eliminated any hopes that the Navy and Gold had of coming back and making this a closer contest.
Senior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge (0-3) dropped his third outing of the season after allowing 10 runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.0 innings pitched. Relief pitchers Kyle Blohm, Trey Williams, Lucas Mertlich led the visiting Warriors to the finish line with a combined seven runs allowed on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters.
Jessup's righthanded starter Anthony Perez tossed 6.0 innings of two-run and four-hit baseball and struck out five hitters along the way in a 78-pitch appearance. Bullpen pitchers Keola Yim, Mason Azevedo, and Richie Vidal all threw a single inning apiece in relief, with Azevedo and Vidal allowing two runs each to Corban.
Corban senior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer continues to have himself a hot start at the plate in his final season of collegiate baseball, as he held the lone multi-hit stat line of game one for Corban via a single, double, and added two runs to the scoreboard himself. Senior first baseman Matthew Den Hartog launched the first home run of his Navy and Gold career with a ninth-inning blast, giving him two RBI to match junior leftfielder Fran Gross in the category.
Three-hit performances for Jessup second baseman Kayde Iranon and first baseman Bryce Petrilla allowed the host university to cruise to their 17-6 victory, with Iranon and centerfielder Quinton Hall each netting three RBI in the process. Five other Warriors for Jessup clinched at least two RBI in the nine-inning affair.
GAME 2 – Jessup 9, Corban 6 (7 Innings)
Yet another non-conference matchup shortened due to either weather or in today's case, the quickly fleeting access to light, awaited Corban in game two of today's doubleheader, where the Navy and Gold showed their true capabilities when both the offense and defense are in sync.
Gross singled in the top of the second inning to score sophomore second baseman Brady Majewski from his natural habitat at second base, but a leadoff solo home run down the left field line by rightfielder Trey Furrey allowed Jessup to knot this game back up at 1-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, Coach Harris' team finally found their stride and quickly loaded the bases, which would eventually lead to four runs on a bases loaded walk, a two RBI single, and another RBI single to take a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning of play.
However, a four-homer game by Jessup allowed the host Warriors to reverse their course of action and snag a game two win as well, eliminating their four-run deficit in a single eight-run inning to sweep the first of two doubleheaders between these programs.
Despite tossing one of his finest games thus far in this early spring season, Corban starting lefthander Hayden Van Acker received a no decision after allowing four runs off six hits, three walks and a pair of strikeouts via 76 pitches. Sophomore relief pitcher Gabriel Prater (0-1) was credited with the loss after seeing five Jessup runs cross the plate under his command on five hits, walking one and striking out another. Freshman relief pitcher Kolbe McAfee closed out the bottom of the sixth via a strikeout to keep the hometown Warriors from adding any further damage.
After a relatively quiet game one performance, junior third baseman Ryan Clay was the only student-athlete in game two with at least four hits at the plate, logging a perfect 4-for-4 outing and scoring a run. Majewski and graduate student first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui each slashed a pair of hits, with Ka'ahanui leading the team with two RBI.
Jessup third baseman Connor Culp clinched a 3-for-3 game at the plate with an RBI and run scored to lead the home team, while leftfielder Drew Andrews tacked on two more hits and three RBI.
The two Warrior programs will be back in action with another doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at 12pm and 3pm, with Corban looking to shake their five-game losing streak on day two in Lincoln.
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