KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball team jumped out to a highflying offensive showcase with stellar defense and pitching to turn heads in their 2025 season opening doubleheader, as the Warriors dealt out a pair of run-rule decisions against Simpson University earlier today with 17-6 and 12-1 final scores that concluded in seven innings for an electric start to their non-conference slate that head coach Ryan Harris couldn't have drawn up any better.
"Some great team wins today for our program," explained Coach Harris as they began his second season as the team leader today. "I'm very proud of the effort our guys had right from the jump. Our offense did a fantastic job in all phases. Tanner had a fantastic effort coming in relief in game one to lock up our first win of the year. The offense continued to stay consistent in game two. Everyone in the lineup had opportunities to move runners and drive runs in. Josephan had an incredible performance in his first start. Incredibly proud how he controlled the game and attacked hitters. Overall, the pitching staff in game two was outstanding!"
Game 1 – Corban 17, Simpson 6 (7 Innings)
An offensive spectacular was on full display in the Warriors' first matchup of 2025, as 15 runs were scored over the first two innings of play between the two NAIA programs, with the Navy and Gold earning ten of those runs themselves to lead 10-5 thanks to six base hits and a pair of Simpson fielding errors. In the first plate appearances of their Corban careers, junior shortstop Isaac Bateman, junior designated hitter Peyton Rickard, and senior first baseman Drew DeMasi all reached base and eventually scored to provide the Navy and Gold with a comfortable lead that they helped add on to in the second inning.
After trading a run apiece in the bottom of the third and top of the fourth between Corban and Simpson, the Warriors added to their lead by scoring six more in the fifth, entering the sixth inning with a comfortable 17-6 lead needing just six outs to enact the ten-run rule in their first outing of the year. Two frames later, the Navy and Gold locked up their first win of the season in run-rule fashion at 17-6 against the RedHawks.
In his first start as a Warrior, senior lefthander Chris Shaffer shook off an early first inning run but allowed four more in the second to force an early exit for the Cal State Bernardino transfer, ending his day with a pair of strikeouts, five walks, and four hits allowed. Junior relief pitcher Tanner Martinez took over for Shaffer and shut the RedHawks down for the next 4.2 innings to earn the winning decision, allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts and five walked. Freshman reliever Josh Allen tossed the final two outs with a walk to lock up the team's season-opening victory.
Simpson starter Nathan Palacioz pitched into the third inning yet allowed 11 runs on six hits, six walks, and picked up three strikeouts as the losing pitcher. Relief pitcher Jaydon Tomas pitched the remaining 3.2 innings with six runs allowed on five hits with four free passes.
The Warriors' offense was unstoppable in game one with 11 total hits to score their 17 runs, with 16 RBI dealt out by seven different batters. Sophomore leftfielder Lucas Mertlich led the charge with five RBI on three hits and scored two runs along the way, while Rickard pitched in four RBI on two hits and three runs score. DeMasi was 2-for-2 in his Corban debut with two RBI, three runs, and a pair of walks drawn.
The RedHawks' lineup was held to just six hits across six different student-athletes, with leftfielder Bo Valladao securing two RBI and a run scored. Leadoff hitter and shortstop Joel Calderin scored two runs for Simpson in game one.
Game 2 – Corban 12, Simpson 1 (7 Innings)
The offense didn't miss a step moving from the season opener to game two of the series, as the Warriors scored the first four runs of the game to open a comfortable lead for redshirt junior starting pitcher Josephan Gonzalez in the first start of his Corban tenure. Gonzalez was masterful throughout his 5.0 innings of work, allowing just one unearned run with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks while holding the RedHawks hitless.
By the end of the third inning, the Navy and Gold had already established a 9-1 lead and thanks to Gonzalez' phenomenal start, tacked on another three runs in the fifth inning to reach the ten-run mark and cruise into yet another seven-inning victory. Senior pitcher Casey Henderson tossed a frame in relief of Golzalez with a strikeout and just one hit allowed on three pitches, while junior reliever Joshua Pedronan wrapped up the contest with three quick outs.
RedHawks' starting pitcher Brendan Moore was roughed up for six runs on eight hits with just two strikeouts of Warrior hitters, while the three-man bullpen to relieve him was tagged for another six runs off six equal hits and another two punchouts while allowing five batters to reach base safely via walks.
Mertlich and Rickard carried their first game success at the plate into the back half of today's doubleheader in dominant fashion, as Mertlich went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and runs scored while Rickard was a perfect 3-for-3 with another two RBI and scored a run of his own. Through two games, the duo is slugging well over 1.000 apiece with six combined extra base hits. Senior third baseman Ryan Clay tied Rickard with three hits of his own in game two, along with two RBI and two runs scored.
Simpson's lone hit in the second contest came off the bat of third baseman Cayden Lee, while shortstop Aden Munoz scored the team's only unearned run.
The Warriors and RedHawks will return to Volcanoes Stadium tomorrow morning for another doubleheader beginning at 11am and 2pm, with the second game and fourth in the series representing a 7-inning contest.
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