LA GRANDE, Ore. – The postseason is still within reach of the Corban University Baseball program as they enter the final day of the 2026 regular season tomorrow morning, with the Warriors earning a day one split against Eastern Oregon University via 8-4 and 7-2 final scores.
"Game one we got out to an early lead and were in a pitcher's duel through about the fifth inning," shared Warriors' head coach Ryan Harris. "We couldn't really get things moving offensively after their big inning in the sixth. In game two, Brady was electric. He threw whatever he wanted in any count. Our offense had his back and scored nearly every inning for a great team win. We're still in the playoff hunt and have to be ready to go tomorrow."
Game 1 | Eastern Oregon 8, Corban 4
It was once again the visiting Warriors (17-31, 13-22) who took control early on the scoreboard, as Corban rattled off the first three runs of the contest across the opening 3.5 innings before EOU rallied to score the next seven runs unanswered. The Dubs snagged an unearned run back in the top of the seventh, but the damage was already done and allowed EOU to snag game one, 8-4.
Warriors' redshirt senior starting pitcher Jack Kovanen was charged with the loss after allowing four runs in 4.1 frames off eight hits, while senior right-hander Josh Pedronan and redshirt junior reliever Eddie Gould combined for four more runs off another eight hits in 3.1 innings.
Mountaineers' starter Easton Corey snagged his third win of the season after lasting 6.1 innings and allowing four runs to the Warriors off eight hits, yet struck out five batters before giving way to closer Joey Weissenfels, who tossed the remaining 2.2 innings to pick up the save, allowing just one baserunner during his tenure on the mound.
The lone multi-hit outing of the contest for Corban belonged to senior catcher Knox Hubbard, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI while his senior courtesy runner Ethan Ammerman scored on both occasions that Hubbard reached base safely. Junior second baseman Collin McNeill tallied two RBI on his base knock in the second that opened the scoring.
Eastern Oregon managed double the number of runs in game one off double the number of hits, led by shortstop Jace Nagler and centerfielder Andrew Demianew from the top of the lineup who finished 3-for-4 and 4-for-5, respectively. Nagler scored three runs and batted home one more, while Demianew logged three RBI.
Game 2 | Corban 7, Eastern Oregon 2
The lone difference between games one and two today for the Navy and Gold came on the mound, as the offense provided seven runs of support for sophomore starting pitcher Brady Sprague, who tossed a complete game two-run gem to provide Corban with a day one split against Eastern Oregon. Sprague threw his first complete game outing of the season and only third of the year by a Warrior starter with only two runs allowed off seven hits, four walks, and a pair of Mountie punchouts.
A majority of small ball offense led the Warriors to victory in today's finale, concluding with an exclamation point of a homer from senior shortstop Isaac Bateman in the top of the fifth when he drove the fifth pitch of his at-bat over the left centerfield wall to extend the Corban lead to 7-0. Bateman was one of five batters with at least one RBI, with senior first baseman Peyton Rickard leading the field at two RBI on an RBI infield single and sacrifice fly. Senior centerfielder Chase Elliott and redshirt sophomore rightfielder Sean Shaffer each tallied three hits apiece.
The Mounties had three different pitchers throw and even 3.0 innings of work as they attempted to outduel Sprague on the mound, with starter Jace Schow responsible for the loss after allowing five runs off seven hits. Reliever Zakaia Michaels was perfect in his late innings of relief, not allowing a single baserunner while striking out three Warriors.
Tomorrow's doubleheader at 11am back at Pioneer Park against Eastern Oregon represents the final two games of the 2026 regular season for the Corban baseball program, who will need some help from The College of Idaho if they want to qualify for the upcoming postseason. The Warriors need to sweep EOU while they need the Yotes to sweep Tech, both of which will need to occur with the visiting teams sweeping the hosts in a pair of Sunday matinee playoff-clinching series.
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