Frantz hits Warriors to first win of season over Pacific Lutheran

February 24, 2006

BOX SCORE

Sophomore Doug Gausepohl ropes his first hit in a Warrior uniform, a double to left field, in the 3rd inning. (Photo by Mark Colachico)

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Junior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) went 3-for-4 at the plate with 1 run scored, as Corban’s baseball team notched its first win of the season, 7-5, over NCAA Division III member Pacific Lutheran at the Yamhill County Spring Classic played at Linfield College.

Pacific Lutheran got the board first when Ryan Thorne led off the game with a walk, advanced to third on a Logan Andrews’ single to left field, and then scored when Justin Whitehall hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

In the 3rd inning, the Warriors got on the scoreboard when sophomore Doug Gausepohl (Murrieta, Calif.) led off with a double to left field.  Gausepohl then advanced to third on a pass ball before sophomore Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) walked.  Gausepohl scored and McGraw advanced to third following an error by Lutes’ starting pitcher Joe DiPietro.  Senior Brian Nelson (Lebanon, Ore.) roped the first pitch that he saw into left field that plated Corban’s second run.

Corban starter sophomore Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska) began the next inning walking three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases before handing the ball to sophomore reliever Bryan Bernard (Salem, Ore.).  Bernard took the mound and got Thorne to fly out and Andrews to ground out to short to get the Warriors out of the inning.

Senior Josh Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) led off the next inning by reaching on an error before sophomore Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) doubled to right center to plate the senior infielder.  Sophomore Ryan Porter (Keizer, Ore.) then reached on an error that advanced Johnson to third.  McGraw then recorded his first hit of the afternoon, a single to right center, which plated Corban’s third baseman.

Junior Jeremy Frantz stands on second in the 2nd inning following the Warriors' first hit, a double to center. (Photo by Mark Colachico)

Following four straight scoreless innings, Pacific Lutheran put 2 runs up on the board when Thorne singled home a run and Andrews recorded his only RBI of the day.  Junior pitcher Zeke Clayton (Myrtle Creek, Ore.) came in following the Lutes’ two runs and got the final out of the inning via a ground out.

Frantz led off the next inning with an infield single before Johnson sacrificed him to second.  With the junior catcher standing on second, Gausepohl roped a single to left that plated his first RBI in a Warrior uniform.

Corban plated another run in the 7th inning when freshman Rondie Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) scored on a pass ball by DiPietro.

With the Warriors up 6-3 in the 8th inning, the Lutes got within a run when Tyler Green double to right field scoring both pinch hitter Kevin Dickson and Thorne.

Corban padded its lead in the 8th when McGraw knocked home his team-leading 3rd RBI, scoring freshman pinch runner Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.).

In the 9th inning, Clayton gave up a two-out single to PLU’s Roger Guzman before getting the game’s final out on a fly out to center field.

Gausepohl finished the day 2-for-4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI, while McGraw and Nelson combined for 3 hits and 4 RBIs.

Stokes picked up his first win of the season, as he went 3.1 innings, allowing 1 run (1 earned) on 1 hit with 2 strikeouts.  Clayton picked up his 1st save of the season, as he pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing 2 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits with 2 strikeouts.

DiPietro suffered the loss for Pacific Lutheran, as he went 6.0 innings and allowed 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts.

Corban returns to action on Saturday, February 25th, when they face Whitman College beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Roy Helser Field on the campus of Linfield College.