Freshman Nate Hiebert scored the Warrors' first run via an RBI single by junior Craig Spicer in the bottom of the first inning.
Corban Trio Records Two Hits Each in Loss to Wolves of Western Oregon
SALEM, Ore. – Senior Daniel Flores (San Jose, Calif.), junior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.), and junior Rondie Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) registered a pair of hits each, as Corban's baseball team dropped a mid-week non-conference game to the Wolves of NCAA Division II Western Oregon, 7-3, Tuesday at Warrior Field.
The aforementioned trio each recorded two hits and one RBI on the afternoon. Flores and Spicer each generated their production in five trips to the plate, while Taylor went to bat four times.
The Warriors struck early in the first inning as, freshman Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) singled and stole second base before Spicer looped a single to center field to bring Hiebert across the plate. Up next, Flores hit a strong double to left field, allowing Spicer to score all the way from first base as Corban tallied two runs in the inning.
Western Oregon responded in the top of the second, as Joe Pratt hit a double and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Tony Jones.
Following an inning and a half of good defense, the Wolves took the lead with two runs in the fourth inning before increasing their lead again in the sixth off a solo home run to left center off the bat of Tyler Moore. Moore finished the game with two RBIs, while registering three hits on four trips to the plate.
Western Oregon concluded the Wolves' scoring with three additional runs in the seventh inning for the final tally of seven runs for the game.
Corban tallied another run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Flores led off with a single before advancing on sophomore Josh Warner's (Independence, Ore.) ground out. After reaching third base on an error, Flores was driven home by Taylor’s bloop single that landed just fair along the left field line. The eighth inning run proved to be the last for the Warriors, pushing the final margin to 7-3.
Junior Brandon Wolters (Gresham, Ore.) started on the mound for the Warriors, pitching five-plus innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits. Warner relieved Wolters, allowing three runs (all earned) on four hits before freshman Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.) held the Wolves scoreless in the final frame.
Four pitchers appeared for Western Oregon, as Mike Ward picked up the win by pitching shutout ball in the third and fourth innings. Reliever Mike Cusick, a West Salem High School graduate, tallied an impressive five strikeouts while allowing only one hit in three innings on the mound.
Along with Moore's offensive output, Ryan Lewis, Drew Humphrey, and Pratt each collected two hits for the visiting Wolves.
With the loss, Corban falls to 6-16 overall, while the Wolves improve to 20-12 on the season. The Warriors will be back in action again on Friday, April 4th, when they travel south to Klamath Falls for a Cascade Collegiate Conference game against the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Recap written by Keith Wery, Corban College Sports Information Intern