KEIZER, Ore. – Following a day one split on Friday against Eastern Oregon (12-27,3-13), Corban (9-25, 4-8) continued to hit the ball well and rode clutch pitching to take the series. The doubleheader was full of late inning heroics by both programs, but ultimately the Warriors sealed both games with a walk-off hit in game one and a game saving diving catch in game two.

"Great team wins today!" Stated an excited Coach Ryan Harris following the series victory. "It took everyone in the dugout to get those wins today!" Harris continued. "Incredibly proud of everyone's effort and determination."

GAME 1 – CRB 7, EOU 6 (11 Innings)

Eastern Oregon opened the scoring with an RBI double by junior outfielder Parker Cumberland in the third inning. Cumberland followed up his double in the third inning with a two-RBI double in the fourth inning to stretch the lead to 3-0. Senior outfielder Chase Nett followed with a double of his own to make it a five-run lead.

Junior outfielder Noah Owens wasted no time responding to the four-run top of the fourth by blasting a two-run homerun over the left field wall to shrink the Mountie lead to three. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning would make it a 5-4 game, with Eastern still maintaining the lead.

The momentum was already shifting in favor of the Warriors after six innings, but in the seventh, they took control. A sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Nate Gutierrez tied the ball game at five. Owens then took plate and singled home the go ahead run to make it 6-5, Corban.

Eastern Oregon would not go away quietly, however. In their final at-bat, junior infielder Travis Baker singled to right center to tie the game at six apiece, ultimately putting the game into extra innings.

After a scoreless tenth inning, the Warriors were able to load the bases in the bottom of the 11th. Gutierrez took a swing driving it directly into the ground in front of home plate. The ball spun along the first baseline, flirting with foul territory. With the softness of the hit, the Eastern Oregon pitcher only had the hope of the ball trailing foul but was left wanting while the Warriors celebrated the first walk-off of the 2024 campaign.

GAME 2 – CRB 9, EOU 5

Riding the excitement of game one, the Warriors wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Senior third baseman Ryan Clay blasted a home run off the left field light pole, his third of the season. Eastern Oregon quickly responded with their own run when Baker doubled down the right field line and was knocked in by junior catcher Tyler Balkenbush.

Following two straight walks to open the bottom of the second, Gutierrez singled up the middle to bring home a run. Senior shortstop Aidan Bunn followed Gutierrez with a sacrifice fly to bring in the second run of the inning, making it 3-1 after two full. The Mounties tacked on a run to cut the lead to 3-2 in the third inning.

After some silent innings from the Navy and Gold, the bottom of the fifth provided some fireworks. After a hit by pitch, single by Clay and a walk, senior first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui hit into a double play, but with no outs it brought in a run. Freshman designated hitter Luke Mertlich blasted a two-run homerun over the left center fence to extend the lead to four at 6-2 after five full innings.

After three scoreless innings for the Mounties, the offense was restarted with a double by senior second baseman Joey Freitas. Baker followed up with a single to bring in Freitas. Balkenbush singled to put two runners on for junior first baseman Tommy Whiles, who doubled down the left field line to bring in two and make it a one run lead for the Warriors.

Eastern Oregon looked like they were going to get out of the seventh inning with a zero on the board, but a routine groundball to the second baseman was whiffed on, allowing Clay to score from third. Luke Mertlich, who got on via the error, was able to score later in the inning off a wild pitch, making it 8-5 Warriors. Corban would score their ninth run of the game via an error in the eighth.

The Mounties would not go away quietly, much like game one. In the ninth inning sophomore pinch hitter Alex Olague doubled down the left field line to bring in a run to make it 9-6. After loading the bases via a walk, Nett hit a slow roller to the shortstop that could not produce the final out, but rather advanced everyone a base and bringing in a run. Freitas was then hit by a pitch which brought in the eighth run of the game. With the bases loaded, junior designated hitter Mario Landeros hit a screaming liner to left centerfield, but Pellkofer was on his horse from centerfield, laying out to make a spectacular play to save the game for the Warriors.

Senior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge was a workhorse on the mound for the Navy and Gold. Bridge pitched seven and two-thirds innings striking out seven while giving up five hard earned runs. Bridge earned his first win of the season following his excellent outing.

The Warriors will take the diamond again on April 10 for a rescheduled game at Pacific University in Forest Grove at 5pm. Following the midweek game, the Navy and Gold will travel south to Eugene for a four-game set against Bushnell University.

Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email

Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android