Freshman Craig Baker put together his best performance of the season Saturday, as the first-year Warrior went eight-plus strong innings against rival Concordia with a career-high eight K's.
Corban's Baker Pitches Gem Against Rival Concordia
BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2
SALEM, Ore. – Freshman Craig Baker (Meridian, Idaho) pitched eight-plus innings allowing one unearned run with a game-high eight strikeouts in the finale, but it was enough as Corban's baseball team dropped a double header to rival Concordia, 6-2 & 3-1 in 10 innings, Saturday at Warrior Field.
After having yesterday's games rained out between the Warriors and Cavaliers, the two teams met in a pair of games today with the postponed contests scheduled to be made up on Tuesday, April 6th, in a mid-afternoon twin bill beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.
Following the final out of today's affair, Corban is now 8-20 overall and 2-11 in NAIA West play. Meanwhile, Concordia improves to 6-16 overall and 3-7 in NAIA West action.
Corban was led at the plate by junior Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.), who went a combined 3-for-8 with one run batted in to go along with three other Warriors – junior Luke Balbas (Boise, Idaho), junior Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.), and sophomore Jonathan Ramirez (New Britain, Conn.) – that collected two hits each on the afternoon. Ramirez drove in the Warriors other run, while Corban's pitching staff that included freshman Jacob Kopra (Gresham, Ore.), freshman Jake Balbas (Meridian, Idaho), Baker, and junior Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) combined to allow nine runs (one earned) on 19 hits over 19.0 innings of work.
GAME #1 – CONCORDIA 6, CORBAN 2
The opener would begin with Concordia scoring six unanswered runs over the opening six innings with the highlight coming off the bat of Sean Myrom via his lead off solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth inning.
Corban would plate its opening run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Winsor registered a run-scoring single through the left side that allowed Balbas to score following his lead off single to center field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Corban plated its second and final run of the opening game on a Ramirez RBI single to left field that scored senior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) after he drew a one-out walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Kopra would take the hill for Corban over the opening 5.0 innings allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits before turning the ball over the Jake Balbas for the final 4.0 innings.
Myrom and Ryan Kolstad led the Cavaliers' offense with two hits each, while Tyson Kisselburg went the opening 8.0 innings to pick up the win allowing two earned runs on eight hits before giving way to Zac Manor for the final three outs.
GAME #2 – CONCORDIA 3, CORBAN 1 (10 INNINGS)
In what would turn out to be a pitching dual over the opening nine innings of the finale, Concordia scored first on a Chris Jaime single to left field in the top of the first inning that allowed Kolstad to score giving the visiting Cavaliers an early 1-0 lead.
Corban would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hiebert drew a one-out walk before advancing to second on a stolen bases and moving to third on a ground out. The third-year Warrior would come home on a Cavalier throwing error to tie the game at 1-1 after five innings of play.
Neither team would score again until the top of the 10th inning when Concordia got the eventual game-winning run on a Warrior fielding error that allowed Derek Kirkland to score. The visiting Cavaliers would score another run on a Tyler Anderson single down the right field line that brought pinch runner Odie Hollingshed home for the game's final run to make the score 3-1.
Baker went the opening 8.0 innings for Corban allowing one unearned run on five hits before handing the ball to Hiebert, who suffered the heart-wrenching loss allowing two unearned runs on three hits in 2.0 innings of work.
Jamie would lead CU's offense with a two-hit performance, while Josh O'Gorman went 9.0 innings allowing one unearned run on four hits before turning the ball over to Manor for the final three outs. O'Gorman would pick up the win, while Manor earned the save after pitching a perfect 10th inning.
Corban will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 30th, against NCAA Division III member Pacific University of Oregon for a single game beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.