LEWISTON, Idaho – While the Corban University Baseball team was able to put five runs on the board against No. 24-ranked Lewis-Clark State College's top two starters, the defense was unable to keep their mascot doppelgangers off the board as they served as the home team at the home of the NAIA World Series, with LC State taking 15-5 and 11-5 decisions earlier today on Harris Field.
"Much better effort from our offense this week so far," Corban head coach Ryan Harris shared earlier this evening. "A couple of bad innings on defense made things difficult for us in each game. Those four arms we faced were the best we've seen since ACU, and I'm proud of the fight we put up against them. We're looking forward to tomorrow's doubleheader."
Game 1 – #24 LC State 15, Corban 5 (7 Innings)
The Salem Warriors (6-15, 2-9), who are serving as the home team through this weekend's series after the impending Willamette Valley weather relocated the games to northwestern Idaho, jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to senior third baseman Ryan Clay, who hit a ground ball to second base that allowed junior shortstop Isaac Bateman to score from third base.
However, the Lewiston Warriors (12-7, 9-2) tallied seven runs in the following frame after the entire team hit for the cycle in one inning with an RBI single, double, triple, and home run to flip Corban's one-run lead into a six-run deficit.
While a two-run double off the bat of senior leftfielder Noah Owens cut into LC State's lead, a four-run top of the fifth eliminated any chances Corban had at pulling even closer, as Lewis-Clark State added another four runs in the seventh and despite Clay's third homer of the season, LC State held on for the shortened game one result.
Corban's senior southpaw Chris Shaffer allowed seven runs off eight hits over 4.0 innings in his third loss of the year, striking out four batters but walking four with two hit batsmen before giving way to the bullpen. A trio of Salem Warriors, including junior Joshua Pedronan, senior Casey Henderson, and redshirt sophomore Eddie Gould, combined for the final 3.0 innings with another eight runs and seven hits against their season statistics.
LC State ace Evan Canfield secured four strikeouts en route to his fourth winning decision of the season, holding Corban to a pair of earned runs on six hits and four walks during his 5.0 innings of work. Reliefer Zak Sullivan took to the mound for the final 2.0 innings and allowed Clay's homer while striking out a pair of batters.
Junior centerfielder Chase Elliott was the only Corban student-athlete with multiple hits in game one behind his 2-for-3 outing, while Owens had the team-high mark in RBI with two.
Rightfielder Charlie Updegrave powered the Lewis-Clark State offense with three hits and a game-high three runs scored, while first baseman Jakob Marquez homered from both sides of the plate for a game-best five RBI from the cleanup spot.
Game 2 – #24 LC State 11, Corban 5
Continuing their offensive success from game one into game two, LC State scored at least one run in each of the first five innings to hold an 8-3 lead despite yet another longshot off the bat of Clay in the bottom of the third that scored two runs.
Corban cut into their deficit once again in the bottom of the second when redshirt junior designated hitter Joshua Miyazawa doubled to score Elliott and then scored an unearned run himself when sophomore leftfielder Lucas Mertlich reached via error and pull the Salem Warriors to within three runs with three innings left to play.
But just like in every other inning prior where Corban scored, Lewis-Clark State plated three more in the top of the seventh to double their lead and effectively end this contest following a two-run shot by Updegrave thanks to a 4.0 inning save from LC State reliever Jackson Cloud. Starting pitcher Jadon Williamson picked up another 5.0 inning win for the Lewiston Warriors on the cusp of zero earned runs, three unearned, with nine punchouts.
Corban redshirt junior starter Josephan Gonzalez was tagged for seven runs off eight hits across 4.0 innings with six strikeouts, while junior reliever Jackson Young allowed another four runs on five hits with a trio of walks. Graduate student relief pitcher Tanner Boe tossed 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings with a single walk and strikeout.
Clay continued his hot start to the Lewiston series with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate in game two that included his fourth home run of 2025, plating two RBI in the process. Miyazawa and junior catcher Knox Hubbard picked up the other two base hits for Corban.
A massive game for centerfielder Ike George atop the LC State lineup allowed the designated visitors to complete the day one sweep, as he finished 5-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored, all of which represented game-high marks for both squads.
The two Warrior squads will pick things back up tomorrow afternoon at 12/3pm for games three and four of their conference series.
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