Cavs and Warriors split 1-0 outcomes

3/30/2014 6:13:00 PM

PORTLAND, Ore.—With outstanding starting pitching on both sides, Concordia and Corban split a pair of 1-0 pitching duals in an NAIA West doubleheader played at Porter Park on Sunday.

Corban (17-15, 8-6 NAIA W) defeated the Cavaliers 1-0 in the opener behind an eight-inning gem from Jacob Kopra while Harrison McGhee (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) and Austin Hadley (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen H.S.) combined to shutout the Warriors by the same margin in the nightcap.

Concordia (18-11, 8-6 NAIA W.) and Corban will look to continue the four-game series on Monday with a 5 p.m. start. The two teams were originally set to square off on Friday but were forced to push back the start of the series due to rainstorms in the area the past two days.

Game 2 – Concordia 1, Corban 0

Scoreless heading into the bottom of the ninth, Concordia's Cole Pittman (Salem, Ore./West Salem H.S.) opened the final frame with a single to right and found his way home four batters later as Christian Lichtenthaler (Albany, Ore./West Albany H.S.) placed a ball deep into right-center field for a 1-0 walk-off win for the Cavaliers.

After Pittman's hit, Ben Talbot (Lacey, Wash./Timberline H.S.) successfully moved the runner on a sacrifice bunt while Trent Calmer (Beaverton, Ore./Southridge H.S.) belted an infield single to third to place runners on the corners for the home team. From there, the Warriors decided to intentionally walk leadoff hitter Blake Drake (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) to load the bases and create a force at any bag.

Still with just one out, Lichtenthaler's deep drive off reliever Danielle Aranda evened the day's events and sent the CU bench scurrying in celebration.

CU starter Harrison McGhee (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) allowed just four hits over eight innings while striking out seven batters. Austin Hadley (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen H.S.) grabbed the win by hurling a clean ninth inning, giving up a single hit and fanning one batter.

Corban's Austin Guzzon was equally effective, not giving up a run in 6.2 innings of work which featured eight strikeouts.

Concordia outhit Corban 10 to 5 with Drake, Lichtenthaler and Trent Calmer (Beaverton, Ore./Southridge H.S.) each recording two-hit games.

Corban placed runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings, but were removed on the basepaths on two occasions by Talbot, the CU catcher who threw out a pair of would-be base stealers.

Game 1 – Corban 1, Concordia 0

Jacob Kopra allowed five hits over eight shutout innings to help Corban defeat Concordia 1-0 in the opening game of a four-game NAIA West series on Sunday.

Scott Drier drove in the lone run of the game with a one-out bases loaded fielder's choice in the third, allowing Corban leadoff hitter Marc Gallagos to scamper home from third. Drier smashed a ball of CU starter Jason Snodgrass (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) which trailed away from shortstop Christian Lichtenthaler (Albany, Ore./West Albany H.S.) where a play couldn't be made and providing safety for each runner.

Snodgrass got out of the inning on the very next batter with a line drive to first where Cavalier infielder Blake Evetts (Tigard, Ore./Jesuit H.S.) made a diving stab and quickly touched the bag for the easy double-up.

Both teams finished with five hits in the game with Concordia's Ian Erickson (Astoria, Ore./Astoria H.S.) the lone batter to record more than one hit.

Corban's Daniel Aranda walked one batter in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.

Snodgrass took the hard-luck loss, allowing one run on five hits in the complete game performance.