Six pitchers plus two home runs equals win over Willamette

March 7, 2006

BOX SCORE

Senior Brian Nelson connected on his 4th round-tripper in the last three games to give Corban the early lead. (Photo by Mark Colachico)

SALEM, Ore. – Six pitchers along with two-run home runs by senior Brian Nelson (Lebanon, Ore.) and junior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) equaled a mid-week victory, 7-6, over Willamette University at John Lewis Field.

Sophomore Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) started the game with a walk and then stole second before Nelson connected on his 4th home run of the season to put the Warriors up 2-0 after three batters.  Nelson had dialed long distance in each of the Warriors’ last three games, including back-to-back homers versus Concordia on Saturday.  Corban’s other first inning run came via an error by the Bearcats’ first baseman that scored Frantz.  Willamette got back within a run following a 2-run single by the Bearcats’ third baseman David Tufo.

Sophomore pitcher Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska) started the game for second-year head coach Larry Casian and the Warriors.  Stokes pitched the first 3.0 innings and left the game trailing 5-4 following a 3-run home run by Willamette’s Grant Yamaguchi in the 3rd inning.  Corban took the lead for good when Frantz connected on his second home run of the season – an opposite field 2-run shot to left center – in the 4th inning scoring sophomore Ryan Porter (Keizer, Ore.).

Sophomore Jordan Emery (Salem, Ore.) took the mound in the 4th inning and teamed with senior Josh Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) and freshman Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.) to shut down the Bearcats for three straight innings.

Both teams scored lone runs in the 7th inning, as sophomore Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) drove in freshman Rondie Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) with a double over the left fielder’s head.  Willamette got back within a run following a Tufo RBI single, but could not muster anymore runs off Corban’s junior closer Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho) over the final two innings.

Frantz led Corban with a 3-for-4 performance with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in, as Nelson finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and 2 runs batted in.  Eighteen different players appeared for the Warriors, as seven recorded at least one hit apiece.

Stokes allowed 5 runs (all earned) on 8 hits with 1 strikeout, while the remaining quintet of Warrior pitchers allowed 1 run (all earned) on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts.

Both team recorded 11 hits, including 3 doubles and 3 home runs.

With the win, Corban improves to 4-5 overall, as Willamette falls to 9-4 overall.  The Warriors will return to conference action on Friday, March 10th, when they face Oregon Tech in a double header beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Warrior Field.