Senior Josh Warner was the lone Warrior Tuesday to collect more than one hit, as he collected two hits against Lewis & Clark.
Big Inning Hurts Corban in Loss Versus Pios
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Senior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) led the Warriors' offense with a 2-for-4 showing that included one run scored, but a seven-run first inning by Lewis & Clark did not help Corban's baseball team in a 9-3 loss to the visiting Pioneers Tuesday at Warrior Field.
With today's result, Corban falls to 8-18 overall and Lewis & Clark improves to 6-11 on its season.
Warner was aided offensively by five other Warriors – junior Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.), junior Luke Balbas (Boise, Idaho), junior Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.), junior Taylor Wyatt (Dallas, Ore.), and sophomore Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) – that recorded one hit each on the afternoon.
Sophomore Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.) took the hill first for Corban pitching the opening 3.1 innings allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits before turning the ball over to a quartet of Warrior relievers. Freshman David Hull (Kelso, Wash.), junior Chris Trammell (Salem, Ore.), sophomore Mike McKay (Almira, Wash.), and junior Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.) combined to pitch the final 5.2 innings allowing one earned run on five hits.
Lewis & Clark would open the game scoring seven runs on five hits in the top of the first inning with the highlight coming off the bat of Jim Bray via a three-run home run over the left field wall. Holding a five-run lead (5-0), the visiting Pios would plate two more unearned runs in the first inning en route to grabbing an early 7-0 lead.
The Pioneers' eighth run would come in the top of the fourth inning when Nate Grisham doubled to left center allowing Tucker Laurence to score following his lead-off single through the left side. Lewis & Clark would hold an eight-run lead (8-0) heading into the Warriors' fourth at-bat.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Corban would finally get on the board when Balbas roped a one-out double to center field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Taylor would then bring home the Warriors' first run via a ground out to short that made the score 8-1 in favor of the visiting Pioneers.
Lewis & Clark would score its ninth and final run in the top of the fifth on Michael Ball's solo home run down the left field line that push the visiting Pios' lead back to eight runs (9-1).
Corban would score its second run in the bottom of the eighth inning when freshman Kris Bos (Jerome, Idaho) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded allowing fellow freshman Alex Bost (San Jose, Calif.) to score from third.
One inning later, Warner would lead off Corban's final at-bat with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. A pair of ground outs would bring Warner home with the Warriors' third and final run to make the final outcome a six-run deficit for Corban, 9-3.
Lewis & Clark was led by Zach Perez's 3-for-5 performance, while Ball, Grisham, and Sam Holman added two hits each. On the mound, Ryo Kawashima would pick up the win going the opening 5.0 innings allowing one earned run on five hits before giving way to a pair of Pioneer relievers – Hardeep Gujral and Walter Pultinas – for the final four innings.
Corban will return to the diamond on Friday, March 26th, against fellow NAIA West member Concordia in an afternoon double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.