KEIZER, Ore. – A pair of quiet offensive performances by the hot-hitting Corban University Baseball team resulted in a somber kickstart to their Senior Weekend festivities, as The College of Idaho scored 25 runs across 17.0 innings to take 10-3 and 15-3 final scores and snap a three-game losing streak to the Warriors and effectively shut the door on the Navy and Gold's chances of postseason contention for the 2024 season in doing so.

"Tough day at home, not too many things we could build off of throughout the afternoon and into the evening," stated Corban head coach Ryan Harris. "We left a ton of guys on base and just couldn't execute on the mound in key moments. Tomorrow is senior day, a special day to remember that we are playing this game for different reasons. I hope that we are able to come out united with the same goal of honoring our senior class."

Game 1 – C of I 10, Corban 3

With the Warriors (9-32, 4-14) needing to pick up a pair of wins today on their home field and get some help from across the conference in other key matchups this weekend in order to keep their postseason hopes alive, the Yotes (13-31, 4-14) were able to play the role of spoilers with a pair of great performances in the batter's box by their lineup combined with equally consistent pitching to the first two games of a conference series all year long.

Five runs through the first four innings for C of I had nearly put the game out of reach for Corban, but a double steal by junior leftfielder Fran Gross and freshman pinch runner Joshua Tillett allowed the Warriors to earn their first run of the game when Gross danced around long enough for the Yotes to lose track of Tillett and find every one safe at their respective bags. The very next inning, junior third baseman Ryan Clay would score on a wild pitch to cut the lead to three runs.

However, the Yotes' offense kicked up the intensity in the top of the sixth inning to plate three more runs and double their lead, as well as a single run in both the eighth and ninth to force the Warriors into an eight-run deficit entering the final at-bats. While sophomore second baseman Brady Majewski was able to knock a flyball deep enough to score Gross on a sacrifice fly, C of I induced the final out to wrap up game one.

Corban sophomore starting pitcher Aidan Bray was tagged for eight earned runs on seven hits and five walks alongside five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Junior relief pitcher Sam Greenhalgh and redshirt sophomore reliever Kyle Blohm each tossed 1.2 innings apiece, allowing a single run each on two and one hit, respectively.

Yotes' starter Nate Vidlak picked up his fourth win of the year after allowing just two runs on three hits over 7.0 frames, walking three and striking out three more along the way. The final 2.0 innings were shared by relievers Willy Shirts and Grant Jakobson, with Jakobson allowing one run off a single hit.

Clay was responsible for three of the Warriors' four team hits in game one this afternoon, as he was 3-for-5 with a run scored from the leadoff spot atop the Corban lineup. Gross picked up the other base hit for the home team and scored a run as well.

Catcher Matthew Iwamizu was unstoppable at the plate for C of I today, logging a perfect 3-for-3 performance in the opener with an RBI and a hit by pitch, while his courtesy runner Brayden Macy scored on all four occasions that Iwamizu reached base. Centerfielder Trevor Watkins also cashed in on three hits during game one, scoring two runs and batting in two more.

Game 2 – C of I 15, Corban 3 (8 Innings)

College of Idaho picked up right where they left off in game one with a five-run opening frame to start the second game of today's doubleheader, with Iwamizu driving a two-run triple that bounced off the top of the outfield fence and stayed in fair territory. His pinch runner Macy would score two at-bats later on a two-run double by rightfielder Jace Mahlke to all but end the second contest in the first inning alone.

A single run scored on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Aidan Bray in the bottom of the second cut the lead to four, but four quick innings by both teams resulted in a 5-1 score in favor of C of I with only three innings remaining.

Much to the pleasure of the Yotes fans in attendance tonight in Keizer, the visiting team was able to cut the three guaranteed innings into just two with ten runs over the seventh and eighth frames combined, forcing the Warriors into a 15-1 deficit and needing to score at least five runs in the bottom of the eighth to keep their hopes alive. While a one-run double by senior designated hitter Matthew Den Hartog and sacrifice fly off the bat of junior Noah Owens put Corban at three runs for the game, a spectacular diving catch by first baseman Darren Smith on a line drive allowed the Yotes to end the ball game in run-rule fashion.

Freshman starter Avery Williamson was able to work quickly in his innings to get two outs but struggled to locate the final out on multiple occasions to result in the losing decision for the true freshman, allowing seven runs off five hits and five walks alongside five punchouts. Relief pitchers Joe Licari, Andy Young, and Kolbe McAfee got the Warriors the final five outs of the ball game with a combined eight runs, four hits, and five walks issued.

A scary first two innings for Yotes' starter Nick Eliason was contrasted by his offense's hot start to allow him to pick up the win, while originally scheduled designated hitter Ben Gaff moved from the dugout to the mound to pitch the remainder of game two for the Yotes, allowing just two runs on three hits, one walk, and securing three strikeouts.

All three Warriors to secure a hit in the Friday nightcap contest were seniors that the team will be honoring tomorrow morning, led by centerfielder Brad Pellkofer who was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Den Hartog's ninth inning double combined with graduate student first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui's double in the bottom of the first rounded out the Corban offense.

Mahlke and Smith were joined by second baseman Jack Ingraham in earning multiple hits through game two, with both Mahlke and Ingraham snagging two RBI apiece. Iwamizu and leftfielder Dillon Danner each followed in suit with two RBI as well.

Tomorrow's senior day festivities will take place in-between games one and two at Volcanoes Stadium, with the doubleheader slated to begin at 9am, leaving the second game to start shortly after the honoring of the twelve Corban seniors at around 12pm.

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