CU's Ross Conway pitched a complete game for the Cavaliers in the opener against Corban.
Concordia, Corban Split Friday Doubleheader
PORTLAND, Ore.—Jason Braun struck out 11 while holding Concordia to five hits in a 1-0 win for Corban in the first game of a West Region baseball doubleheader played at the University of Portland’s Joe Etzel Field.
With the result, Corban improved to 7-13 on the year with a 5-8 mark in league play. Concordia dropped to 9-13 overall and 4-8 in West Region action.
Despite being cut down in order in five of the nine innings, the Warriors were able to posts the game’s lone run, an unearned score in the seventh.
After a leadoff out, Russ Johnston and Kyle Taylor tagged back-to-back singles to set up runners on first and third with one out. Trevor Winsor followed with a pop up to CU shortstop Brennan Ingram. Returning the action to short, Mitch Riddle hit a grounder back to Ingram, but reached safely via an error which allowed Johnston to scamper in from third.
The Johnston score represented just one of two situations where CU starter Ross Conway allowed a runner past second base. Winsor reached third base in the third inning after leading off the frame with a double down the left-field line.
The Cavs nearly scored in the bottom of the first with consecutive two-out hits by Jimmy Rudig and Tommy Whalen only to see the work erased when Braun got Jon Houts to groundout to second to get out of danger.
Concordia got its lead-off batter in scoring positions in three different innings, all started via hit singles, but Braun was able to end two of the three threats with a strikeout.
Both starters went the distance with Braun allowing eight hits for the shutout win. Conway allowed five hits while striking out one and not issuing a walk.
Rudig went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Cavs while Jon Houts went 2-for-4. With a 2-for-4 effort, Johnston was the lone batter with multiple hits for the Warriors.
Cavs Hang On for Corban Split
PORTLAND, Ore.— Up by six through five innings, the Concordia baseball team nearly surrendered its lead before holding on for a 9-8 seven-inning win in the second game of a West Region baseball doubleheader played at the University of Portland’s Joe Etzel Field.
With the win, Concordia improved to 10-13 on the year with a 4-9 mark in league play while Corban dropped to 7-14 overall and 5-9 in West Region action.
After giving up two runs in the first, the Cavs halved the deficit with a solo score in the home half of the inning before erupting for seven runs in the second. Both teams scored a single run in the fifth to make it a 9-3 contest before Corban plated four runners in the sixth for a 9-7 deficit.
Corban’s Kyle Taylor led off the seventh with a double to et up an RBI single by Trevor Winsor. After being moved over to second by way of a sacrifice bunt, Winsor would be cut down on a game-ending double play off the bat of Josh Warner. With runners on first and second, Warner hit a shot to CU third baseball Jon Houts who stepped on the bag and fired to first to preserve the win.
The Cavs sent 11 batters to the plate in the seven-run second, collecting four hits and two walks en route to the early lead.
Brett Hawley picked up the win as the CU starter, going 5.2 innings. Ian Miller took the moud for the final three outs for the save while Corban’s Derek Stokes was charged with the loss after lasting four innings.
The two teams will conclude the series with a doubleheader at Wilsonville High School. The opening pitch, originally scheduled for 11 a.m., has been moved to noon.