REDDING, Calif. – The silver lining came through for the Corban University Baseball team when they needed it most this afternoon in northern California, as shortly after dropping game three of their four-game set at Simpson University, the Warriors claimed an unprecedented ninth inning comeback bid where they scored six-straight runs and held on in the bottom frame to escape from Redding with a 13-12 finale victory.
"We played through a lot of adversity this weekend," Corban head coach Ryan Harris commented earlier today. "Not a lot of things were going our way, and I know that this series wasn't the outcome that we wanted. But nonetheless, our guys came to play two games of baseball today. Their effort was fantastic all day. After all the adversity and doubt, these guys found a way to make some magic and come away with one heck of a comeback victory."
Game 1 – Simpson 6. Corban 2
Of the thirty-three total runs scored in today's doubleheader, thirteen crossed home plate unearned as eleven combined fielding errors plagued both the Warriors (2-8) and Red Hawks (4-8) in day two of their weekend series, with the two NAIA program splitting today's results but Simpson claiming the series win.
Corban jumped out in the first inning of game one with an unearned run to claim an early lead, but the Red Hawks would go on to score the next six runs before the Navy and Gold finally pushed another run across in the top of the ninth. While that ninth inning comeback fell short, the finale was still in store for Warrior Nation supporters who traveled to northern California.
Warriors' sophomore starting pitcher Brayd Sprague tossed a season-high 6.2 innings for a Corban starter, yet accepted the loss after allowing three earned runs off six hits, five walks, and three strikeouts. Senior righthander Casey Henderson came on in 1.2 innings of relief and allowed just a single base runner on a hit-by-pitch.
Simpson starting pitcher Brendan Moore picked up the win on the mound after lasting the minimum 5.0 innings and conceding the lone first-inning unearned run alongside four punchouts, while reliever Johnny Alvarez sat the six Warriors he saw down in order and relief pitcher Nui Sato allowed another four hits lead to a Corban run in the ninth.
The only multi-hit outing for the Dubs in game one today belonged to senior first baseman Peyton Rickard, who finished 2-for-3 with the game's first RBI. For the Red Hawks, leftfielder Mario Catalan and designated hitter Owen Hayes tallied two hits apiece.
Game 2 – Corban 13, Simpson 12
A five-run lead that the Warriors established over their opening two offensive frames was quickly eradicated by 11-straiight Simpson runs, setting up what appeared to be the fourth and final victory of the weekend for the Red Hawks barring an unprecedented comeback bid for the Warriors.
Trailing 12-7 in the top of the ninth, junior second baseman Colin McNeill singled home two of the six runs the Dubs would go on to score and flip a five-run deficit into a one-run lead, with the California native coming around to score on a wild pitch on the very next at-bat. Following the second Warrior out of the frame, senior catcher Knox Hubbard struck out swinging but managed to reach after a passed ball on the third strike, allowing the inning to continue.
Back-to-back walks to load the bases sent Simpson back to their bullpen, setting up redshirt sophomore rightfielder Sean Shaffer with a bases-loaded, two-out scenario that Corban had no business being in following the previous six frames. Nonetheless, Shaffer rose to the occasion and connected with two strikes, singling through the left side of the infield that brought the tying runs around to score. Shaffer would later be caught stealing third to end the inning on a wild pitch, but not before senior centerfielder Chase Elliott nabbed home to provide the Dubs with a one-run advantage.
After back-to-back popups to redshirt junior Ethan Ammermann at shortstop to start the bottom of the ninth, junior righthander Avery Williamson, who had already pitched the previous 4.0 innings of relief for Harris and the Warriors, finally allowed a baserunner to reach, giving way to sophomore southpaw John Brabb who needed just one out to pick up his first career save. On his third pitch of the final at-bat, Brabb forced a lineout to Elliott in centerfield, thus completing the extraordinary comeback bid to salvage the four-game set in Redding.
Senior Isaac Bateman took to the mound in game four after starting the last three games at shortstop, allowing six earned runs off six hits, three walks, and three punchouts in 3.2 innings before eventually giving way to senior reliever Jackson Young and Williamson. Both Young and Williamson allowed a pair of earned runs, while Brabb shut the door on the final hitter of the game to pick up the save.
Seven different Red Hawks pitched in the series finale, all giving up various numbers of runs and hits to Corban with reliever Chandler Jones eventually taking the loss to his season record after the tying and go-ahead runs reached base safely in the ninth under his command.
Shaffer led the field in game four with three RBI on two hits and scoring a run, while Rickard picked up another two base hits, two RBI, and two runs. Junior leftfielder Lucas Mertlich belted his first homer of the season to lead off the second inning and finish with two alongside McNeill in the six-hole.
Sato, who came on in relief in Simpson's game one win this afternoon, led the Red Hawk offense with three hits, two RBI, and a run scored in an attempt to clinch a sweep, with two more teammates clinching multi-hit appearances as well.
The Warriors will enjoy their lone bye week of the 2026 season next weekend before they kick off Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play on the road in southern Oregon, as they'll travel to Oregon Tech (2-1) for a three-game conference set with a fourth non-conference contest should weather allow for it. Games one and two are scheduled for Saturday, February 21st at 11am & 2pm at the Steen Sports Park.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter (X) l Instagram l YouTube l Email
