Six-run final inning not enough in loss to Bearcats

February 3, 2007

BOX SCORE - WILLAMETTE 9, CORBAN 7

Junior Darren Johnson went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and two RBIs today in loss to NCAA D-III Willamette. (Photos courtesy of Piet Van Weel)

SALEM, Ore. – A ninth inning six-run surge from Corban's baseball team, including two RBIs off a pair of hits from junior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) was not enough as the Warriors fell in the opening game of the 2007 season, 9-7, to cross-town rivals Willamette University.

Willamette got on the board early scoring four runs in the opening two innings off starting Corban pitcher and senior Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho). However, it was not until the fourth inning that the home team took a commanding lead (7-0) over the Warriors when Bearcat first baseman Kyle Stalker blasted a three-run home run over the right field wall.

The Warriors tightened their defensive approach in the fifth inning when Stalker re-entered the batter's box. Freshman pitcher Eric Bolden (Kent, Wash.) forced Stalker to ground out to diving senior first baseman Brett Timmerman (Medford, Ore.), who quickly tossed the ball back to Bolden, who was covering the first-base bag, for the out.

The Bearcats continued to pressure and recorded yet another run (8-0) in the sixth inning when Jordan Roberts came home on a Matthew Rasmussen ground out to Corban's junior shortstop Justin Trammel (Salem, Ore.). Though down, the Warriors refused to be out as senior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) drove the ball to the fence between right and center field and knocked in freshman Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.) on a double that made the score 8-1.

Agitated and aggravated, the Bearcats placed their final run of the game (9-1) on the scoreboard in the eighth inning when Stalker cranked his second home run of the game over the same right field wall. However, Corban narrowed the margin (9-7) in its final at bat when Frantz, Johnson, Timmerman, sophomore Owen Frasier (Vancouver, Wash.), freshman Cameron Meier (Salem, Ore.), and freshman Zack James (Medford, Ore.) touched home plate. The Bearcats' Kelsey Nakata relieved Clint Moran and was able to force Timmerman into a ground out to Ryan Peterson at second base for the final out of the game.

Willamette's Tye Sundlee picked up the win for the Bearcats, while Fitchett was handed the loss after giving up 8 hits in 3.0 innings of work. The 6-foot-3 right hander allowed 4 earned runs and struck out 3 Bearcat batters. Nakata earned the save in a 2-hit performance.

On the afternoon, Johnson led the Warriors with a 2-for-4 performance, while Frantz went 2-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs. Willamette's Stalker led all players with a 3-for-5 day including 5 RBIs on two home runs and a single.

With the loss, Corban begins its season 0-1. Willamette, on the other hand, starts its season 1-0. The Warriors will be next in action on Saturday, February 10th, when they head north to Tacoma, Washington, for a double header against NCAA D-III University of Puget Sound at 11:00 a.m.

Written by James Young, Corban College Sports Information Intern