KEIZER, Ore. – The Corban University Baseball program dropped the third and final conference matchup of the four-game series against Warner Pacific University earlier this afternoon before their fourth non-conference matchup was suspended due to inclement weather in the bottom of the fourth inning with a 10-4 lead in favor of the Warriors.
"Pretty mentally frustrating result today," began Corban head coach Ryan Harris when asked to share his thoughts on today's doubleheader. "I thought we spotted them at least 5-6 runs in the first third of the game via wild pitches, walks, hit-by-pitches, or an ill-timed error. All things that we were fantastic with in yesterday's games. Our offense came out and responded and made some serious push to get back to being down four with twelve outs to go, which was an incredible effort. Sam did a fantastic job to keep us in the game when his name was called in the middle innings. Warner Pac did a nice job to tack on in the last third of the game to keep us out of reach."
Just like in yesterday's series opener, the Knights (2-3, 1-2) were able to strike first in the opening innings and while all three of their first inning runs to cross home plate were all earned, a disastrous third inning of play where numerous errors and wild pitchers/passed balls resulted in a handful of unearned runs to count against the Warriors (5-5, 2-1) on the scoreboard.
Staring a 10-0 deficit in the face with over two-thirds of the contest still to be played, the Navy and Gold rattled off six-straight runs from the bottom of the third to fifth innings to cut the WPU advantage to four runs, with junior shortstop Isaac Bateman launching a three-run missile of a home run amidst the comeback bid.
However, Warner Pac utilized an RBI double, sacrifice fly, and RBI single in the sixth and seventh innings to stretch their lead back to seven runs, and despite a run scored by the Warriors in the bottom of the eighth, the Knights clinched their first conference victory of the season via the 13-7 final line.
Corban junior starting pitcher Jackson Young accepted his first losing decision of the season after allowing six runs, four of which were earned, on two hits and three walks and a trio of hit-by-pitches. Graduate student southpaw Tanner Boe allowed another three earned runs off a single hit and two walks, while senior righthander Sam Greenhalgh found his footing for 4.1 innings of relief with three runs allowed on nine WPU hits, picking up two strikeouts along the way. Finally, redshirt sophomore reliever Eddie Gould pitched the last 2.0 innings to the sound of no hits, no runs, and a pair of punchouts.
Knights' starting pitcher Connor Hale earned his first win on the mound all season thanks to 5.0 innings of six runs on six hits along with four walks and three strikeouts. Reliever Kaden Hindman serviced the final 4.0 innings of action and allowed just a single run on three hits and led all pitchers today with four strikeouts.
The Corban offense was led by Bateman at the top of the lineup with two hits, three RBI, and a run scored, while junior designated hitter Peyton Rickard and redshirt sophomore second baseman Ethan Ammerman each recorded two hits alongside Bateman. Ammerman and senior centerfielder Fran Gross each scored a pair of runs for the Navy and Gold.
The only three-hit performance of the afternoon belonged to Warner Pac first baseman Collin Schiller, who finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored from the cleanup spot. Designated hitter Mitchell Thoma-Britt, catcher Giovanny Alvillar, and second baseman Shawn Hunt each secured two hits apiece as well for the Knights' offense.
While the resumption date for the non-conference matchup that was suspended in the bottom of the fourth is still being set, the Warriors will turn their attention to hosting the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls (8-4, 1-2) next weekend, with game one of the series scheduled for 11am on Friday at Volcanoes Stadium.
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