KEIZER, Ore. – After Klamath Basin snow required a venue swap between the Corban University Baseball team and the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech to open Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play in 2026, the Warriors took advantage of their home field advantage and tagged OIT for 11 runs in seven frames for an 11-1 run-rule victory in the opener, with Tech striking back in game two behind seven unanswered runs for a 9-6 victory and force a day one split at Roto-Rooter Park.
"Great effort from all our guys today," began Warriors' head coach Ryan Harris when asked to discuss today's doubleheader. "Game one we came out and attacked in all phases. Incredible effort by Jack and our offense. Game two we jumped right back out and got a lead but unfortunately let them back into the game and gave them a lot of opportunities, which they capitalized on. Nothing to dwell on, our guys did a great job and have momentum heading into tomorrow."
Game 1 | Corban 11, OIT 1 (7 Innings)
An outstanding start from an upperclassmen leader on the mound combined with an overwhelming attack at the plate by the Warriors (9-3, 1-1) made for quick work of the Owls (8-4, 1-1) who are coming off one of their best ten-game starts to a season in program history, as it was all Corban in the opener with OIT's lone run coming off a fifth-inning solo homer to save the shutout.
Navy and Gold redshirt senior righthander Jack Kovanen had the best start of his Corban career, as he wrapped up a complete game effort with six strikeouts and the lone earned run off seven hits and just a single walk issued. Kovanen needed just 93 pitches to silence the Owls in game one.
Tech starting pitcher Carson Glavich lasted just 3.0 innings in the losing decision, allowing seven Corban runs to come in to score off nine hits and two walks, picking up just a single punchout. Relievers Crew Howell and Thomas Smith combined for the final 3.2 innings, allowing four more runs to cross as earned, including the walk-off walk to Warriors' junior second baseman Colin McNeill.
Over half of the Dubs' starting lineup collected multi-hit performances in the series opener, led by senior centerfielder Chase Elliott atop the lineup card with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, scoring a game-high four runs and tallying a pair of RBI. Redshirt sophomore rightfielder Sean Shaffer followed Elliott in the lineup with three hits as well, while senior first baseman Peyton Rickard led all players with three RBI.
Owls' designated hitter Cal Pontecorvo was the lone visitor with multiple hits in game one, as he finished 2-for-2 and drew a walk. Shortstop Logan Macy was responsible for the only run of the game for OIT, taking Kovanen yard in the top of the fifth with two outs.
Game 2 | OIT 9, Corban 6
Game two felt eerily similar to the opener for both squads, as Elliott led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer and immediately put Corban ahead on the scoreboard. However, Oregon Tech responded with a pair of runs the very next inning to earn their first lead of the day.
The Warriors struck back in the bottom of the second and third with two runs apiece, flipping their 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 advantage. They added another run in the fifth before the Owls rallied for a four-run sixth and three-run seventh, all while halting the Navy and Gold progress on the basepaths and clinching the come-from-behind CCC victory.
A phenomenal 5.0 innings to start for Warriors' sophomore righthander Brady Sprague was eventually spoiled by the Owls' four-run fifth, as four walks and a hit-by-pitch snuck up and stole the win away from Sprague, eventually resuling in a loss for senior relief pitcher Tanner Martinez after Tech regained the lead in the seventh. Sophomore southpaw John Brabb and redshirt junior reliever Eddie Gould each tossed 1.1 innings of relief with no runs scored.
OIT starting pitcher Landon Cheney settled for the no-decision after allowing all of Corban's runs over the first 5.0 innings, with relief pitcher Marcos Ulloa-Ford earning the win by keeping the Dubs at bay for the remainder of the contest by spreading out three hits and three strikeouts.
Rickard responded in game two with a 2-for-4 appearance at the plate and two runs scored, but no teammates joined him in the multi-hit club to eventually drop the afternoon contest. Senior shortstop Isaac Bateman led the Warriors with two RBI.
Centerfielder Michael O'Daniel, first baseman Andrew Sharp, and second baseman Nick Gimino all tallied two hits, with O'Daniel leading all players with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Warriors and Owls will conclude their four-game CCC series tomorrow, with delayed start times now scheduled for 12pm and 3pm due to impending showers in the morning.
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