Junior Derek Stokes held the high-powered offense of Lewis-Clark State to a mere four runs in today's opener, which was the lowest run total for the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Warriors in five games.
Corban Snaps Lewis-Clark State's NAIA Record Scoreless Streak
LEWISTON, Idaho – After being held scoreless over the first 22 innings this weekend, Corban's baseball team snapped Lewis-Clark State's NAIA record of 51 straight scoreless innings despite back-to-back losses, 4-0 & 8-1, Saturday at Harris Field.
Following a 13-0 defeat last night to the NAIA's defending national champions, Corban went another 14 innings without scoring a run to push the host Warriors' pitching staff scoreless streak to a record 51 innings before the Warriors from Salem scored their lone run of the weekend in the fifth inning of the night cap.
Game #1 - Lewis-Clark State 4, Corban 0
In the opener, Lewis-Clark State scored a pair of runs in the opening inning via Josh Ashenbrenner's two-run single to left field for the game's opening tallies.
After registering a mere two hits over the next three innings, Corban allowed the host Warriors to score the game's final two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning via a triple and a run-scoring ground out.
Neither team scored over the game's final five innings, as it became a pitcher's dual that saw a mere seven combined hits that included four by Corban.
Six different Warriors -- senior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.), junior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.), senior Daniel Flores (San Jose, Calif.), sophomore Mitch Riddle (Pullman, Wash.), sophomore Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.), and freshman Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) -- each registered hits in the afternoon's opening game.
On the mound, junior Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska) took the hill for the Warriors for the opening 7.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits before turning the ball over to senior Jordan Emery (Salem, Ore.) for the game's final inning.
Lewis-Clark State was led by Ashenbrenner's 2-for-4 performance with a pair of RBIs, while five other Warriors registered a hit each. Pitching-wise, Michael Guerrero went the opening 7.0 innings for L-C State allowing no runs on four hits before handing the ball over to Blaine Hardy for the game's final two innings.
Game #2 - Lewis-Clark State 8, Corban 1
In the night cap, Lewis-Clark State scored seven unanswered runs in the opening two innings highlighted by Kyle Greene's three-run double to left field with the bases loaded in the second inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Corban got on the score board for the first time all weekend as sophomore Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.) registered a one-out single to center field before advancing to second on McGraw's walk. The very next batter -- freshman Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) -- reached base via an error by LCSC's second baseman before McGraw and Hiebert advanced an extra base on L-C State's second error of the inning that allowed Schmidt to score from third.
Lewis-Clark State scored the game's final run in the bottom of the fifth inning via Nic Benton's RBI double to left field that scored Mickey Pingree from second.
Corban was led offensively in the night cap by another six Warriors -- McGraw, Flores, Taylor, senior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.), Warner, and Schmidt -- that recorded a hit each, as Corban tallied a total of 12 hits in the doubleheader.
Pitching-wise, junior Brandon Wolters (Gresham, Ore.) took the hill for Corban in the opening 3.0 innings allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits before turning the ball over to a quartet of Warrior relievers. Freshman Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.), freshman Chris Trammell (Salem, Ore.), Warner, and Emery combined to throw five innings, allowing one earned run on a combined four hits.
Offensively, Pingree went a perfect 3-for-3 for Lewis-Clark State to go along with Greene's 2-for-3 performance that included four RBIs and a run scored. LCSC's Ryan Woods went the opening 5.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits before turning the ball over to Dustin Willis and Justin Mace for the game's final four innings. The aforementioned duo each pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits each.
With the losses, Corban falls 9-25 overall, while Lewis-Clark State improves to 40-4 on the season. The Warriors are back in action on Friday, April 25th, when Corban travels back to the state of Idaho to take on The College of Idaho in an afternoon doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Simplot Stadium.