FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A near come-from-behind victory was foiled in the top of the ninth inning for the Corban University Baseball team this evening at Chuck Bafaro Stadium, as NCAA DIII Pacific University held on for a 3-2 non-conference win on their home field in a tight pitchers' duel through the nine-inning affair.
"Proud of our pitchers coming in on a mid-week and competing!" shared Warriors' head coach Ryan Harris. "We got a lot of guys opportunities that have been working hard all year and now had a chance to play. Very encouraging to see those guys put themselves in position to tie or take the lead late in the game. Not the end result that we wanted, but very encouraged with the progress between last week's mid-week and this one. We've got some very exciting opportunities this weekend against Bushnell, and we are looking forward to them!"
The Warriors (9-26) were able to pick up an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when junior third baseman Ryan Clay flew out to deep right field, allowing senior shortstop Aidan Bunn to sprint home from third and score the game's opening run. Three innings later, the Boxers (17-9) replicated almost the exact same scoring play, with shortstop Ty Yukumoto earning the RBI sacrifice fly that scored first baseman Walker Matthews.
A two-run double the very next frame by Pacific's third baseman Elijah Gonzalez provided the hometown program with a 3-1 lead that would prove to be the difference maker, but not before Corban made things interesting down the stretch in their final plate appearances.
After freshman leftfielder Lucas Mertlich led off the top of the ninth with a double off the fence, sophomore rightfielder Michon Cole replicated the same play with a two-bagger of his own, which scored Mertlich and now made Cole the tying run at second base. Two at-bats later, the Warriors had the bases loaded with no outs, threatening to blow this game wide open in the final frame of play.
However, the Boxers were able to lean on their team leader in saves represented by closer Ayden Ruminski to close out the narrow victory, as he was able to induce a fielder's choice out at home plate followed by a 6-4-3 double play to put the Navy and Gold on ice and halt their near comeback threat.
In a typical midweek outing, Coach Harris sent seven pitchers to the mound to allow starters and bullpen arms to get some midweek action in before a crucial road series this weekend, with junior starter Sam Greenhalgh getting the start and allowing just one hit and a walk in 2.0 innings. Eventually, sophomore reliever Trey Williams would be charged with the loss after allowing the two runs that would go on to score in the seventh to reach base.
An eight-man excursion for Pacific was capped by a winning decision for relief pitcher Alexander Mullen, his first of the season, while Ruminski picked up his 20th save on the year despite allowing three hits and a run in an otherwise shaky appearance out of the pen, thus relying on his defense to secure the victory tonight.
Mertlich and Cole were joined by freshman catcher Boh Sartain and sophomore second baseman Brady Majewski in the base hit department, as they each secured a single base knock apiece to pace the Warriors' offense.
Boxers' leadoff hitter and leftfielder Matt Gibbs was the only student-athlete to procure multiple hits in today's single midweek non-conference contest, as he finished 2-for-3 with a walk drawn but never was able to locate home plate. Gonzales was the game leader in RBI with a pair on his seventh-inning double.
The Navy and Gold will make the short trip south for their I-5 conference rivalry series against Bushnell University (19-18, 6-6) this upcoming Friday, with their first doubleheader set to begin at 2pm at the Hamlin Sports Complex.
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