Ramirez Walk-Off Helps Corban Sweep Simpson
BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
SALEM, Ore. – Sophomore Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) hit his first-ever walk-off home run on the first pitch that he saw in the eighth inning to cap a combined 5-for-10 performance with three runs scored and three runs batted in, as Corban's baseball team swept Simpson, 8-6 & 8-7 in eight innings, Saturday at Warrior Field.
With today's double header sweep, Corban improves to 8-17 overall and 2-9 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Simpson drops to 8-16-1 overall and 4-8 in NAIA West action.
"Today's wins feel good to finally get off that 13-game losing streak," said fourth-year head coach Nate Mayben. "The guys have been working hard and it seems anything that can go wrong, has gone wrong for us and it is just nice to finally put together a couple good wins."
Along with Ramirez's game-ending heroics, junior Luke Balbas (Boise, Idaho) put together a solid 5-for-8 performance that included three runs scored and two RBI in the two games. Junior Tyler Lake (Medford, Ore.) also added four hits in eight at-bats with three runs scored and one run batted in, while nine other Warriors – senior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.), senior Mitch Riddle (Pullman, Wash.), junior Steven Candelaria (Farmington, N.M.), junior Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.), junior Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.), junior Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.), sophomore Steven Blum (Salem, Ore.), freshman Marc Labarthe (Salem, Ore.), and freshman Craig Baker (Meridian, Idaho) – all registered at least one hit on the afternoon.
On the mound, freshman Jacob Kopra (Gresham, Ore.) pitched Game #1 going 5.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits to go along with a game-high four strikeouts before turning the ball over to a pair of Warrior relievers. Sophomore Tyler Doornink (Yakima, Wash.) and Hiebert would combine to pitch the final 4.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. In the night cap, Winsor allowed six earned runs on 10 hits over the opening 5.1 innings before handing the ball to sophomore Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.) and Hiebert for the final 2.2 innings.
GAME #1 – CORBAN 8, SIMPSON 6
In the opener, Corban would get on the board first when Ramirez roped a double to center field in the bottom of the first inning that allowed Warner to score following his lead off single to center field for an early 1-0 Warrior lead.
Simpson would battle back to take the lead with four unanswered runs that included a Matthew Alton two-run single before Jared Jordan roped a two-run double to right field in the top of the fourth for a 4-1 Redhawk lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Corban would plate three runs on a RBI single to left field by Lake before Hiebert brought two runs home via a single up the middle that allowed Lake and freshman pinch runner Kyle Kunkel (Bremerton, Wash.) to score to tie the game at 4-4.
Corban would retake the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Balbas and Candelaria registered back-to-back doubles allowing Balbas to score for a one-run Warrior lead (5-4) after seventh innings of play.
In the top of the eighth inning, Simpson would tie the game at 5-5 on a Shane Battles solo home run over the left center field wall.
Corban would grab the lead once again in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Hiebert and Warner reached on back-to-back Redhawk errors that allowed Hiebert to score the go-ahead run. One batter later, Winsor would bring home the eventual game-winning run via a single through the left side that scored Warner and made the score 7-5 in favor of the host Warriors. Corban plated its eighth and final run of the opener via a Ramirez RBI double to left center that scored Winsor.
In the top of the ninth inning, Simpson would get one run back on a ground out RBI by Chris Moody that scored Joshua Corson before Corban's defense shut down the Redhawks for the two-run win (8-6).
Hiebert would get the win in relief for Corban, as he pitched the final two innings allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.
Simpson was led offensively by Alton, who went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Meanwhile, Dustin Stoddard went the opening 5.2 innings for the Redhawks allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits before turning the ball over to Joshua Weise, who suffered the loss, for the final 2.1 innings.
GAME #2 – CORBAN 8, SIMPSON 7 (8 INNINGS)
Saturday's finale began with Simpson scoring two runs in the top of the first inning on Moody's RBI single to right field that scored Jordan before Aarason Perry brought home Battles with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Corban would pull back within one run (2-1) in the bottom of the first inning when Balbas registered an infield single that allowed Ramirez to score from second following his double down the left field line.
In the top of the third inning, Moody would register his second RBI of the game via a solo home run over the right field wall that increased Simpson's lead to two runs (3-1).
Corban would grab a two-run lead (5-3) after three innings, as the host Warriors plated four runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a two-run double to left center by Blum that scored Balbas and Ramirez. One batter later, Taylor brought Blum home with a single to right field before Lake singled to through the right side and then crossed the plate on a balk during the next at-bat.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Corban would score two more runs when junior Taylor Wyatt (Dallas, Ore.) came off the bench to register a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Taylor to score after freshman pinch-hitter Jake Balbas (Meridian, Idaho) was hit by a pitch during his plate appearance for Taylor before he re-entered the game on the base paths. Lake would then single to right center before coming around for his second and final run on a wild pitch two batters later for a 7-3 Warrior lead.
Simpson would pull within a single run (7-6) in the top of the sixth inning when Battles brought home pinch-hitter Daniel Clarke via a ground out RBI for the visiting Redhawks' sixth run of the game.
In the top of the seventh inning, Simpson would tie the score at 7-7 on Rico Adams' ground out RBI that allowed Nick Spiess to score after he reached base via a Warrior throwing error.
Corban would not score in the bottom of the seventh inning, while Simpson could not capitalize on a lead off hit by Jordan in the top of the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Simpson would get the Warriors' first two batters before Ramirez stepped up to the plate and ended the game with one swing over the left field wall.
"[The walk-off home run] feels great," said Ramirez. "We love to make stuff interesting and God gave me another chance that I took advantage of. I just have to give Him the glory because if I did not have that second chance then we might have lost the game."
Hiebert would pick up his second straight win in relief, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits to go along with a game-high tying two strikeouts.
Simpson was led at the plate by Jordan's 3-for-4 performance with one run scored and one RBI, while Battles, Moody, and Corson added two hits each. Daniel Bartow went the opening 2.0 innings for the Redhawks allowing five earned runs on eight hits before turning the ball over to a pair of Simpson relievers for the final 5.2 innings. Kris Warner suffered the heart-breaking loss, as he went 2.2 innings in relief allowing one earned run on three hits.
Corban will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 23rd, for a single game against NCAA Division III member Lewis & Clark beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.