Kopra Throws Another Masterpiece in Corban Victory

3/13/2014 12:00:00 AM

SALEM – Jacob Kopra continued his mastery over NAIA West opponents on Thursday afternoon, shutting down visiting Menlo on just four hits in leading Corban to a 3-0 win at Warrior Field.

Corban, playing for the first time on its home field, improves to 12-8 overall and 4-1 in the league, while Menlo is now 8-13 overall and 1-4 in the NAIA West.

Kopra threw his second consecutive complete-game shutout to improve his record to 4-0. Last Friday, he allowed nine hits and struck out 10 in beating Simpson, 3-0. Today against Menlo he allowed just the four hits while striking out seven and walking two. Over his last three starts totaling 25 innings Kopra has not allowed an earned run and has lowered his earned run average from 3.22 to 1.52.

The senior right-hander was so dominant, in fact, that the visiting Oaks did not get a base runner as far as second base until the top of the ninth inning when a one-out walk and two-out hit batter put runners on second and first. Kopra enticed Daniel Comstock, Menlo's cleanup hitter, into a game-ending ground out.

"That's Jacob Kopra being Jacob Kopra," Corban pitching coach Sean Buller said. "He brings a special element to the field, to his teammates and to the game. As a pitching coach it's a pleasure to watch him perform the way he does."

While Kopra was keeping the Oaks offense in check, Menlo ace Daniel Chavez escaped several early jams, leaving Corban base runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings. The Warriors finally got to the right-hander in the bottom of the seventh, and it was an error by Chavez that accounted for the game's first run.

Tyler Bennett grounded a double just inside the third base bag and down the left field line, and Ryan Morgan came into the game to run for him. Following a strikeout, Gregg Romero hit a one-hopper back at Chavez. The ball glanced off his glove for an error, allowing Morgan to advance to third from where he scored on a perfect squeeze bunt by Marc Gallegos.

Corban got two more runs in the eighth inning to give Kopra insurance that, as it turned out, he did not need. Daniel Orr led off with an opposite-field double to the fence in left field, and he advanced a base when Chavez threw away Ben Straka's sacrifice bunt, which allowed Straka to reach base safely. After a wild pitch and intentional walk, Davis Alderman hit a long double to deep center field, Orr coming in and pinch runner Jordan Johansen sliding head first just ahead of the relay throw to home plate.

The three-run lead was more than enough for Kopra, who briefly wobbled in the ninth before shutting the door on the Oaks.

Corban managed five hits combined – Orr and Alderman both had a pair – against Menlo pitchers Chavez and Nate Harris. Alex Boucher had two of Menlo's four hits.

The teams continue their four-game league series with a Friday doubleheader, with first pitch slated for noon.