KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team kicked off their final series of the 2024 spring season this afternoon in the Klamath Basin, as RV Oregon Tech hosted the Warriors for their first of two doubleheaders where the Owls seized 10-3 and 16-3 results on their home field.

"Game one I thought we were very competitive through the first four innings," began Corban head coach Ryan Harris. "We made a few too many mistakes and they capitalized on them in the fifth. Then we just couldn't get back into it from there. Game two, they took advantage of some miscues and put together some big innings. We had a few opportunities to get back into it but came up emptyhanded. We'll flush today and come out with a fresh mindset tomorrow to give everything we've got for the last games of the season."

Game 1 – OIT 10, Corban 3

Consistently a threat to score first in their matchups this season, the Warriors (9-36, 4-18) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when graduate student first baseman doubled to right field to score junior third baseman Ryan Clay.

Despite the Owls (32-16, 16-6) jumping on the board with an unearned run in the bottom of the third, senior centerfielder Brad Pellkofer broke the tie once again with an RBI single up the middle, allowing Clay to score his second run of the ball game.

However, a five-run bottom of the fifth by OIT saw the home team take a 6-3 lead, and even though Clay was able to pick up his first RBI of the contest the very next inning to cut the deficit to two runs, Oregon Tech added four more over the seventh and eighth frames to keep the Navy and Gold out of striking distance.

Warriors' starting pitcher Avery Williamson accepted a loss in his final start of his true freshman season, allowing five runs off four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Redshirt junior reliver Nathan Findley and senior relief pitcher Giovanni Cervantes each tossed 2.0 innings out of the bullpen, with Findley surrendering four runs off three hits and Cervantes permitting one run with no base hits.

Meanwhile, Owls' starter Cody Dubray picked up the win after throwing 6.0 innings of three-run, six-hit baseball with seven free passes and as many punchouts. Closer Drake Aboud earned a rare 3.0 inning save in a seven-run margin final score with a clean sheet to his name despite the four walks allowed.

Clay and Ka'ahanui each had two base knocks in their final series' opener of the 2024 season, with Clay also drawing three walks from the leadoff spot of the Corban lineup. Pellkofer and redshirt sophomore catcher Joshua Miyazawa each added another hit apiece in the Warriors' efforts.

Only one Owl had more than a single base hit in game one today, represented by second baseman Matthew Ortiz from the top of the OIT lineup. Third baseman Chase Hedani scored two runs with two RBI, while centerfielder D Bradshaw held the game-high RBI mark at three.

Game 2 – OIT 16, Corban 3 (7 Innings)

Game two this afternoon was all Oregon Tech from the start, as the Owls scored seven runs in the first three innings to take a commanding 7-1 lead, with the lone Corban score coming on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by freshman catcher Jeremiah Pinkerton. Clay blasted a solo homer to right centerfield in the bottom of the fifth, while redshirt sophomore designated hitter Roger Viloria cashed in on a sacrifice fly to score Pellkofer and round out the Warriors' scoring in a high-flying contest for the OIT offense.

Corban sophomore starter Aidan Bray was tagged for nine runs on five hits and four walks through 3.1 innings of action this afternoon, resulting in a four-man outing from the Warriors' bullpen over the final 2.2 frames.

Oregon Tech's starting pitcher Bronson Chapple nearly picked up the complete game outing but settled for 6.0 innings instead, allowing three runs off three hits while striking out a pair of Navy and Gold batters. Jaden Domingsel tossed a scoreless inning of relief to end the game.

Four different Warriors earned a single hit in game two, with freshman leftfielder Lucas Mertlich joining Clay, Pellkofer, and Pinkerton in the final stat line.

Ortiz picked up another multi-hit outing with three hits and three runs scored for OIT, while shortstop Patrick Barry replicated the same output along with a pair of RBI. Catcher Ty Blakely was the RBI leader with a trio of them in the doubleheader night cap.

The Warriors and Owls will conclude the regular season tomorrow with the final doubleheader on Oregon Tech's Senior Day, with game one scheduled for 11am back at Steen Sports Park.

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