Warner drives home winning run to beat Hustlin' Owls
March 16, 2007
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Freshman Josh Warner drove in the game-winning run with a single in the ninth inning, as Corban took the opener from OIT today on Warrior Field. (Photo courtesy of Corban Sports Information) |
SALEM, Ore. – Freshman Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) drove home fellow freshman Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.) from second base in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Corban's baseball team defeated Oregon Tech, 4-3, to open a three-game series with the Hustlin' Owls on Friday.
After giving up three runs in the top of the ninth inning, the host Warriors began the inning with Schmidt reaching via a single to center field. Junior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) moved Schmidt ninety feet with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. With the winning run sitting at second base, Warner laced a single through the left side past a diving OIT third baseman and into left field. Schmidt, without hesitation, rounded third and headed home, as the Hustlin' Owls left fielder picked up the ball and made a throw towards the plate. As the throw went high and wide right, Schmidt slide home for the game-winning run that ended the game with 1 out.
The game's scoring began in the third inning when McGraw and Warner recorded back-to-back singles with one out. Following an error by OIT's right fielder on Warner's single, the pair of outfielders found themselves standing at second and third with only one out. Senior Ryan Heil (Medford, Ore.) proceeded to bring McGraw home from third with a ground out to second for the game's first run.
Clinging to a slim one-run advantage, the host Warriors posted another run on the board via a single to left center by senior Brett Timmerman (Medford, Ore.) that scored Warner, who had reached on an error by OIT's third baseman.
In the eight inning, Corban tacked on another run when junior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) hit a shard grounder to third that the Hustlin' Owls Wade Coatney had ricochet off his glove for his second error of the game, allowing Timmerman to score from third following his earlier single to left field and a stolen base.
Down by three runs, Oregon Tech got back-to-back singles from Fernando Castanedo and Kenny Simmons before lead off hitter Phil Ouelette walked to load the bases. In an attempt to make up for his earlier errors, Coatney looped a single into left field that scored both pinch runners Quinn Hummel and Dustin Kim Seu. With a 1-run lead and two outs, senior reliever Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho) got Chris Curtis to hit what seemed to be a game-ending ground ball to second base only to have sophomore Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.) have the ball go through his legs and into right field therefore tying the game at 3-all. With the go-ahead run standing on third, Fitchett got OIT's first baseman Sean Teaters to line out to left field to set up Warner's heroics in the bottom of the inning.
Timmerman ended the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Spicer, McGraw, and Warner each recorded a pair of hits on the day.
Along with his work at the plate, Timmerman began the day on the mound, pitching 5.0 shut out innings before handing the ball over to sophomore Eric Clifford (Fallon, Nev.) for 2.1 innings of relief. Senior Zeke Clayton (Myrtle Creek, Ore.) threw 0.2 innings of relief before handing the ball over to Fitchett for the final three outs. Fitchett earned the win (his first of the season), as he pitched the 9th inning in relief.
For Oregon Tech, Coatney ended the day with a 2-for-4 performance that included a pair of RBIs. Designated hitter Dan Mecum, Castanedo, and Simmons were the only other Hustlin' Owls to reach base via a hit. Casey Burton was strapped with the loss, as the right-hander went 8.1 innings, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) on 10 hits and struck out 7 Warrior hitters.
With the win, Corban improves to 6-12-1 overall, 2-5 in Region I play. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech falls to 4-9 overall, 2-5 in Region I action. These same two teams will return to Warrior Field on Saturday, March 17th, when they conclude their three-game series with a double header beginning at 11:00 a.m.
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