VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Corban University Baseball team clinched a day one split across the US-Canadian border earlier today, as the Warriors claimed a 3-2 pitcher's duel in game one before the RV University of British Columbia claimed a run-rule victory 13-3 in a shortened 7.0 inning contest.
"Great team win in game one," explained Corban head coach Ryan Harris. "The offense did a great job in the box. We were one hit away in a few innings to break the game wide open but didn't get it. But when we needed to produce a run, we found a way and did a great job executing. Jack pitched great, along with Josh and Peyton to close it out. Game two, we started the game strong and got into the fourth inning, but we started making mistakes and they capitalized. We put together a strong offensive inning ourselves to answer, but unfortunately too many mistakes snowballed into more opportunities for UBC. A great opportunity tomorrow to build on the game one performance and claim a series on the road!"
Game 1 | Corban 3, (RV) British Columbia 2
The RV Thunderbirds (15-7, 9-2) had only dropped one Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) contest to date prior to today's doubleheader against the visiting Warriors (11-13, 7-5), who jumped up into second place within the Pacific Northwest following a day one split in Vancouver. The red-hot Dubs were able to earn the opener victory thanks to four incredible outings on the mound from their starter alongside three bullpen arms, while the offense did exactly what they needed to outscore the T-Birds.
After senior shortstop Isaac Bateman singled home senior centerfielder Chase Elliott in the first inning, UBC struck back with a two-run bottom of the fourth to claim a 2-1 lead. However, junior leftfielder Lucas Mertlich drove a sacrifice fly to deep leftfield that simultaneously scored Bateman and moved senior designated hitter Nathaniel Gutierrez to third base, who would score on an infield single the next at-bat by senior catcher Knox Hubbard to provide the Warriors with their 3-2 victory following three more shutout innings from the Corban bullpen.
Redshirt senior starting pitcher Jack Kovanen earned his third win of the season on the mound following 5.0 innings of two-run, seven-hit baseball where he walked just two batters. Redshirt junior reliever Eddie Gould led a three-man bullpen to today's victory, where he pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings with two strikeouts and no hits allowed. Senior righthander Joshua Pedronan pitched 1.2 frames with two hits allowed, while senior first baseman Peyton Rickard took over as the team's closer to shut down UBC and earn his second save of the season.
The T-Birds' ace Will Anderson was charged with today's loss after going 5.2 innings on the mound and allowing all three earned runs to the Navy and Gold, striking out four batters and walking three while eight hits were registered against UBC's starter. Righthander Mason Chien tossed 3.1 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and two walks while punching out three hitters.
Elliott and Bateman both finished with multi-hit outings for Corban at the plate, with Gutierrez drawing a pair of walks and the three runs and RBI spread out among three different Warriors. Bateman was the only hitter with both an RBI and run scored.
Four separate Thunderbirds earned multiple hits for the home team, yet only one earned an RBI in centerfielder Oliver Clements. Third baseman David Krahn, catcher Kyle Yip, and designated hitter Josh Cote all tallied two hits apiece.
Game 2 | (RV) British Columbia 13, Corban 3 (7 Innings)
After being held without a homer in the opener, British Columbia teed off with a pair in the fourth inning alone en route to a 13-3 run-rule victory, where the Warriors' lone runs of the contest came on a three-run homer by Mertlich in the top of the fifth. UBC tallied eight more runs following Mertlich's longball, eventually clinching the day one doubleheader split in seven frames.
Corban sophomore starting pitcher Brady Sprague was charged with the loss following a difficult fourth inning, as he was untouchable through the first three frames before the Thunderbirds got to him on five earned runs off four hits. Four more Warriors emerged from the bullpen to complete game two, with redshirt sophomore Jesse Stewart and redshirt freshman Josh Allen both earning an out without any further damage.
A complete 5.0 innings of work allowed UBC starting pitcher James Brock to pick up his team leading fifth win of the year, as he struck out five Warriors and allowed the three earned runs to Mertlich before handing the ball over to the T-Birds' bullpen that allowed just two baserunners the remainder of the contest.
Hubbard picked up a pair of hits to represent all but three of Corban's base knocks in game two, with Rickard, Gutierrez, and Mertlich representing the Navy and Gold batters with one base hit apiece. In the British Columbia dugout, Yip moved to the DH position and led all hitters with four RBI off two hits.
It'll be Warriors and T-Birds again tomorrow back at Tourmaline West Stadium, with two more CCC contests on deck and a series win on the line in a 12pm doubleheader start time.
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