KEIZER, Ore. – In their final home doubleheader of the 2025 spring season, the Corban University Baseball program was unable to take the series against the RV Bushnell University, as the Beacons secured 7-4 and 2-0 victories at Volcanoes Stadium to stave off their first series loss of the year and instead force a 2-2 series split after the Warriors swept them in the day one doubleheader last night. Prior to the start of game four, the team honored thirteen senior Warrior student-athletes who were participating in the final home game of their collegiate baseball careers.
"I'm proud of the effort this weekend," expressed Corban head coach Ryan Harris. "We played incredibly well in all facets of the game. We did everything we could today and just flat out got beat in a pair of great games. I'm glad we could honor our seniors and compete the way we did against a receiving votes team."
Directly after game three wrapped up, the Corban baseball team welcomed the families and friends of their Senior Day honorees to participate in the annual ceremony, with a baker's dozen of Warriors set to receive their flowers. The thirteen seniors honored this afternoon included: second baseman Alex Swaney, relief pitcher Kyle Blohm, leftfielder Joe Licari, relief pitcher Tanner Boe, catcher Ethan VanDelinder, starting pitcher Josephan Gonzalez, relief pitcher Konrad Kisch, first baseman Drew DeMasi, starting pitcher Chris Shaffer, leftfielder Fran Gross, relief pitcher Sam Greenhalgh, rightfielder Noah Owens, and third baseman Ryan Clay.
Game 1 – (RV) Bushnell 7, Corban 4
A four-run opening frame for the Beacons (29-9, 19-6) proved to be the difference between a loss and a win for the Warriors (9-27, 5-20) in game three, with the Navy and Gold holding an opportunity to hand Bushnell their first series loss of the season following their first doubleheader sweep yesterday. However, Gonzalez struggled with his command early and after getting hit by a line drive just four batters into the contest, surrendered four runs to open the game in what would eventually be a three-run win for the Beacs.
After allowing the deficit to stretch to five runs, the Navy and Gold scored a trio of runs across the third and fourth innings to cut the Bushnell lead to 5-3, with both teams exchanging a single run apiece in the fifth to keep the lead at two runs.
Credit goes to the Beacon pitching staff for the remainder of the game three victory, as Corban was shutout for the last three innings while Bushnell added another run in the ninth to lock up a 7-4 win and at the least, avoid a road sweep at the time.
Gonzalez was on the wrong end of his sixth loss of the year after allowing five earned runs off five hits and five walks yet struck out a game-high five Beacons along the way. Sophomore Avery Williams had a consistent outing in relief of Gonzalez in 3.0 innings pitched, surrendering just the single earned run in the ninth across three hits and a walk.
Beacons' starter Max Chapman picked up his fifth win of the year to remain undefeated on the season after spreading out four earned runs across 5.0 innings off eight hits and a pair of walks before giving way to reliever Ethan Sachs for the final 4.0 innings of shutout baseball against Corban, striking out three Warriors for his fourth save of the year.
Redshirt junior catcher Joshua Miyazawa went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Navy and Gold with and RBI, with Owens collecting on a pair of doubles to score a run. Gross and DeMasi each picked up a base hit as well in their Senior Day opener.
Three different Bushnell batters had two hits in game three of this weekend's conference series, led by shortstop Chase Nye who scored a run from the leadoff spot. Third baseman Ethan Stacy and catcher Nate Stevens represented the remaining multi-hit Beacons.
Game 2 – (RV) Bushnell 2, Corban 0
With the Warriors holding their senior ace back until game four in order to give him a proper Senior Day sendoff, as Shaffer took to the mound entered and absolute pitcher's duel with Beacons' starter Kai Keamo. Both Shaffer and Keamo went at least 6.0 innings as they held their opposing offenses scoreless, until Bushnell finally cracked through Shaffer's impenetrable pitch selection in the top of the seventh, scoring an earned run to cement the victory and an unearned run directly after for an insurance run.
Keamo was pulled in the sixth after allowing four hits and walking three Warriors, striking out a pair of Corban batters before relief pitcher Dylan Ha completed the shutout victory with 3.0 frames of one-hit and four-strikeout ball in his first save.
Shaffer pitched game-highs in both innings (7.0) and strikeouts (7) despite accepting the losing decision, walking a pair of Beacons as well while Greenhalgh and Boe each shutdown Bushnell in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
Junior centerfielder Chase Elliott and sophomore designated hitter Lucas Mertlich each tallied a pair of base hits in the series finale, while Clay picked up yet another base knock and was walked for the 100th time in his four-year career, representing one of his many program records anticipated to break by season's end.
Nye secured another pair of hits in game two of today's doubleheader at the plate, with five other Beacons reaching base safely with a knock.
The Warriors will prepare for a short rest with a non-conference single game scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th against NCAA DIII Willamette University, with first pitch scheduled for 6pm at Volcanoes Stadium where Corban will serve as the visiting squad with the Bearcats' home facility still under remodeling construction.
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