KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Four runs in both games three and four of the Corban University Baseball team's weekend series in the Klamath Basin weren't enough to hold off the Cascade Collegiate Conference's hottest program, as the host Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech picked up 12-4 and 8-4 victories over the Warriors to push their program-best win-streak to thirteen games and complete the weekend sweep on their home diamond. In game two, junior shortstop Isaac Bateman belted a leadoff triple down the leftfield line to set the new single-season record for the Navy and Gold, as he eventually came in to score following his team-leading sixth three-bagger of the year.
"In game one, Shaffer was great for us again," shared Warriors' head coach Ryan Harris. "The offense did a nice job of hitting and getting on base, but unfortunately left a lot of guys on base. Two crucial errors in the outfield cost us five runs, and that was the difference in the opener. Game two, Josephan came out a little shaky and settled into the game to dominate for five innings. In the seventh and eighth innings, unfortunately there were things out of our control that had an influence on the game. Nevertheless, I'm proud of the way we bounced back on day two."
Game 1 – Oregon Tech 12, Corban 4
The first five and a half innings of today's opener were played to a one-run lead for the Owls (33-11, 24-9) with the Warriors' (12-34) ace working out of numerous runners on base scenarios to provide his team an opportunity to snag a road win in southern Oregon.
However, a six-run bottom of the sixth for Oregon Tech resulted in the lopsided 12-4 loss for the Navy and Gold, as a two-run homer provided OIT with a double-up lead which they grew on an RBI-triple, wild pitch, and fielding error to lead 10-3 after six frames and thus lock the Warriors out of a game three victory.
Corban senior starter Chris Shaffer was great through five innings, yet a rough sixth resulted in eight total earned runs on nine hits and two walks despite striking out a game-high eight Owls along the way. Junior righthander Casey Henderson finished the final 2.1 innings on the mound, surrendering two earned runs on two hits and a pair of strikeouts.
Tech starting pitcher Bronson Chapple picked up his second win of the year after allowing four runs on 13 hits and striking out five batters, while relief pitchers Caleb Randolph and Alex Rodriguez tossed the eighth and ninth innings with a hit allowed apiece, respectively, with Randolph securing two punchouts.
Senior third baseman Ryan Clay continued his record-setting season for the Warriors with three more hits, an RBI, and a run scored, as the Veradale, Washington native inches closer to setting single-season and career records in multiple offensive categories. Redshirt junior catcher Joshua Miyazawa, sophomore designated hitter Lucas Mertlich, senior rightfielder Noah Owens, and senior leftfielder Fran Gross all recorded two-hit outings at the plate for Coach Harris' program.
The top and bottom of the Owls' offense was troublesome for Shaffer and Henderson all contest, as shortstop Patrick Barry and second baseman Korrey Siracusa each recorded three hits out of the 11 team hits for OIT compared to 15 for the Warriors. Barry scored a game-high three runs with two RBI, while designated hitter Keanu Mizuta secured a game-high four RBI.
Game 2 – Oregon Tech 8, Corban 4
The series' finale swapped lead changes three times before ten outs had even been recorded in the contest, as the Warriors took a one-run lead in the top of the first, surrendered two in the bottom half to OIT, before a two-run bomb for junior centerfielder Michon Cole that represented his first base hit of the year gave Corban a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Bateman's record-setting triple to lead off the frame came in to score on a sacrifice fly by redshirt sophomore catcher Jeremiah Pinkerton that pushed the Warriors' lead to 4-2, which they would hold on to for the next three innings before a Tech rally in the seventh tied the ballgame.
With a runner at first and one out for the Owls, a ten-minute delay in the middle of the inning caused by the umpires' lack of understanding towards double substitutions left Warriors' redshirt junior starter Josephan Gonzalez stranded on the mound cooling off minute-by-minute on a humid day in the Klamath Basin, eventually resulting in a four-pitch walk issued on the next batter and an RBI single that brought the tying run into scoring position and knocked Gonzalez out of his phenomenal start. Following a bullpen change that could have easily been avoided with some NAIA rulebook comprehension, the Owls tied the contest on an RBI-double off the bat of first baseman Tyler Horner, who would later record the final RBI of the contest in the eighth inning after the OIT lineup finally broke through with some unforeseen assistance.
Gonzalez' incredible start unfortunately resulted in a no-decision after going 6.1 innings with four runs off four hits, walking eight batters yet striking out just as many for the game-high mark in punchouts. Graduate student relief pitcher Tanner Boe faced Horner in the seventh and allowed the game-tying base hit, while redshirt sophomore reliever Eddie Gould accepted his first loss of the year after two earned runs scored on three hits.
The Owls' earned a great 5.2 inning start out with three earned runs off eight hits, three walks, and four strikeouts from Carson Glavich, who also received the no-decision via the late-game lead change. Relief pitcher Kaden Melzer shutout the Warriors over the final 3.1 frames to earn his third win on the year.
For the third-straight matchup, the Corban offense out-hit Oregon Tech yet stranded far too many baserunners to score the runs they needed and thus earn a victory on the Owls' home field, led by multi-hit games from Bateman, Clay, junior leftfielder Chase Elliott, and junior second baseman Peyton Rickard.
Barry picked up another two base hits with an RBI and run scored from the leadoff spot of OIT's lineup card, while Horner followed him in the lineup with three hits, three RBI, and scored a run of his own. Only three other Owls managed base hits in the series' finale against the Warriors' pitching staff.
The final weekend of the 2025 regular season will begin next Friday, April 25th on the road against the Knights of Warner Pacific University (9-30, 8-25) with start times scheduled for 12/3pm at a location still to be determined by the WPU athletic staff with no true home field set in their first season back as a varsity sport in the CCC. Check the Corban baseball schedule for updates on the four-game series' field location as the week progresses.
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