CU's Odie Hollingshed scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth for the Cavaliers against Corban on Friday.
Concordia, Corban Split in Baseball
BOX SCORES - GAME 1 : GAME 2
NEWBERG, Ore.— Concordia’s Tony Flanagan connected on a walk-off RBI single in the bottom the eighth to boost Concordia to a 5-4 win over Corban in the second game of an NAIA West Region doubleheader after falling to the Warriors 5-1 in the opener for a baseball split at Morse Field on Friday.
With the results, Concordia moved to 10-32 overall with a 6-16 record in league action while Corban concluded the day 12-37 overall and 5-24 in league contests.
In the opener, Corban scored first in the third inning of play. After a single through the middle by Luke Balbus to open the inning, the Warriors advanced the runner to second on a successful sacrifice bunt from catcher Marc Labrath. Balbus was sent home in the next at bat as lead-off hitter Jonathan Ramirez sent the ball back up the middle for an RBI.
The Cavs would limit the damage with CU catcher Tommy Whalen picking off Ramirez in an attempt to steal second and the team finished the frame with CU starter Tyson Kisselberg forcing a fly ball to left field to keep the score at 1-0.
Concordia squared the game in the bottom half of the inning with Mike Dickman getting things started by connecting on a single to center. Dickman was moved to second on a deep fly ball off the bat of Ryan Kolstad to put the runner in a position to score on a two-out single from Andrew Reid.
Back-to-back two-out hits in the fourth regained the lead for the Warriors. After a pair of outs to the outfield, Trevor Winsor sliced a ball to left-center field and scored moments later as Tyler Lake pushed a single through the middle for the go-ahead RBI.
The Warriors added a run in the sixth and threatened to add an insurance run in the eighth with a one-out double down the line by Steven Blum. Blum moved to third on a grounder to second and remained there as the Cavs got out of the jam with a ground out to short. The Warriors, however, would not be denied a buffer in the ninth as they tallied two runs on three hits to open up a 5-1 lead.
With a runner at first and one out showing, Luke Balbos launched a double to left center and was followed by an intentional walk to Mitch Riddle to load the bases. Back at the top of the order, Ramirez provided the punishing shot with a two-run double to right center to plate the pair. With runners at second and third, Concordia reliever Zac Manor escaped additional harm with a groundout to short followed by a strikeout.
The Cavs managed back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the ninth from Curt Cosby and Tyler Anderson before Balbos wrapped up the complete game win with a fly to right field.
Concordia left at least one runner on in eight straight innings for a total of 10 stranded runners compared to seven for the Warriors. Corban outhit the Cavs 12-9 in the contest with Tyler Lake going 3-for-4 at the plate. Ramirez, Blum and Balbus each posted two-hit games.
Miletich and Dickman both had two-hits for the Cavs.
Balbus struck out four in the win while Kisselberg lasted 8.1 innings while allowing 11 hits and five runs, four of which were earned.
In the second game, the Cavaliers snared an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Dickman led off with a pop up to shallow center which hit the ground in between a trio of Corban defenders. Dickman stole second and moved to third as Andrew Reid followed with a routine grounder to second, but a high throw allowed Reid to reach safely.
After a pop up to the catcher, Ryan Kolstad and Sean Myrom posted consecutive singles to plate Dickman and Reid. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Corban starter Craig Baker notched a grounder to second base for the third out.
Tim Reavis punched a single to center for an RBI in the third to give CU a 3-0 lead but Corban would scratch back with a single run in the fourth via a balk and two in the fifth from extra-base hits from Ramirez and Blum. Ramirez tagged a double to right to score Balbas while Blum managed a triple after shooting a ball to right center which got by the advancing fielder.
Tied at 3-3, both teams posted single runs in the seventh to setup Concordia’s game-winning hit by Flanagan. Reavis opened the frame with a single to left center and was replaced by pinch runner Odie Hollingshed. Hollingshed then scampered to second on a sacrifice bunt from Curt Cosby. With one out, Flanagan drove a ball to shallow left field which allowed Hollingshed to take a turn around third.
Benefited by a slight bobble in the outfield, Hollingshed approached the plate from the outside but maneuvered around Corban catcher Lake by taking an inside route and avoiding the tag for the game-winning score.
Concordia outhit the Warriors 11-6 in the second game with Kolstad, Myrom and Reavis collecting two hits and Dickman finishing 3-for-4 at the plate. Blum went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI and teammate Balbas went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs to lead Corban.
Manor picked up the win after relieving CU starter Josh O’Gorman, who lasted seven innings. O’Gorman allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out four. Manor struck out one and walked one without giving up a hit while pitching the eighth.
Craig Baker logged the first six frames on the mound before giving way to Nate Hiebert with no outs and a runner on first in the seventh. Baker struck out three and walked one in the outing. Hiebert suffered the loss.
The two teams will resume the series with a second doubleheader on Sunday. Opening pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Mt. Hood Community College.