KEIZER, Ore. – An even series split between the Corban University Baseball program and the visiting Yotes from The College of Idaho was settled today at Roto-Rooter Park, as the two teams battled to a 9-1 C of I decision followed by a 10-5 Warrior answer in the finale, with just a single run separating the two Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) programs across both Friday and Saturday's doubleheaders.
"Game one we just couldn't get anything going offensively," expressed Corban head coach Ryan Harris. Their starter came out and was perfect for over five innings. Bo pitched very well and gave us a chance but put ourselves in trouble in the later innings that C of I capitalized on. Game two, we came out attacking in all phases. Isaac was great on the mound, and we woke up the bats finally. Good to see a lot of guys finish this series on a high note to build both confidence and momentum going into next week."
Game 1 | C of I 9, Corban 1
The Yotes (12-4, 4-2) were able to sneak into a tie for second place in the CCC standings thanks to a quality start in game three from starting pitcher Heath Sasser-Gunson, as he shut the Warriors (7-11, 4-3) down for over five innings with four punchouts before eventually allowing his first baserunner in the bottom of the sixth. He exited following Corban's first base hit of the game, giving way to reliever Jakob Cummins who tossed the final 3.0 innings and giving up one run for the Navy and Gold to avoid the home shutout.
In the other dugout, Warriors' senior starting pitcher Robert Hayes Jr. had his own shutout brewing through four innings before C of I finally cracked him in the fifth, eventually taking responsibility for the losing decision despite just one run charged against his ERA. The Warrior bullpen allowed another eight runs to cross home plate, with redshirt junior right-hander Eddie Gould tossing 2.2 frames of shutout baseball with three strikeouts.
The Warriors totaled four hits offensively in game one spread out among four different batters, with the lone RBI of the contest belonging to junior designated hitter Joaquin Velez-Fucal on a double to right centerfield, scoring senior first baseman Peyton Rickard in the process.
Three different Yotes tallied multi-hit outings in today's opener, led by third baseman Corbin Sterner who drove home three RBI off two hits.
Game 2 | Corban 10, C of I 5
While C of I struck first in the series finale with two runs in the top of the first inning, Corban responded by scoring the next ten runs unanswered across the first, second, and fourth innings and behind a second-consecutive strong outing by senior starting pitcher Isaac Bateman, managed to hold on despite a late Yote rally to split the four-game slate.
Bateman allowed just two earned runs off seven hits across his 5.2 innings of work, with freshman reliever Cole Thomas representing the only arm out of the bullpen to hold the Yotes from scoring across 1.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks issued. College of Idaho needed eight separate arms to ride out the 10-5 loss, with their game four starter Grant Jakobson being tagged for five runs off five hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
Rickard and Bateman each tallied two hits apiece and multiple RBI, while Rickard scored a pair of runs. Junior leftfielder Lucas Mertlich put two runs on the board himself via a one-run double and RBI groundout.
Yotes' third baseman Logan Dreher and first baseman Austin Moon both tallied two base hits apiece, with centerfielder and leadoff hitter Maddox Weight reached with three separate hits but never came around to score.
The final leg of the Warriors' three-week homestand begins next Friday, March 6th as Eastern Oregon University (3-10, 1-4) is scheduled to visit Roto-Rooter Park beginning at 2pm for the first of two doubleheaders.
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