Warriors drop twinbill with Cavaliers of Concordia
March 31, 2008
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Senior Daniel Flores notched the seventh home run of his collegiate career, including his first in a Warrior uniform, in the night cap today against the Cavaliers of Concordia. (Photo courtesy of Mike Howden, Corban baseball photographer)
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite good offensive days from both senior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) and junior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.), Corban's baseball team dropped a pair of conference games with the rival Cavaliers of Concordia, 10-4 & 6-5, Monday at The Yard.
After having this weekend's three-game series with Concordia rained out, both teams took the field to make up the first two games on Monday with the Warriors hoping to get closer to the conference-leading Cavaliers in the overall standings.
Game #1 - Concordia 10, Corban 4
In the opener, Corban got the game's first run when Spicer doubled to left field before coming around to score as senior Daniel Flores (San Jose, Calif.) traded places with Spicer via an RBI double to left field.
The host Cavaliers then proceeded to put four runs on the board over the next two innings capitalized by a pair of run scoring doubles by Brennan Ingram and Ben Lanier.
In the top of the fourth inning, Corban tacked another run on the board when senior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) walked with the bases loaded allowing Johnson to score.
After four scoreless frames, Concordia added six runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sean Myron registered a three-run home run to capitalize the home team's scoring.
Corban attempted a last-inning comeback when the visiting Warriors added a pair of runs via Flores' RBI single through the left side and senior Scott Flux's (Salem, Ore.) sacrifice fly to center. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late for Corban as the Warriors stranded a pair of runs on base to end the game.
Offensively, Spicer led the Warriors with a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included a pair of runs score. Meanwhile, Flores and Johnson each added a pair of hits en route to Corban collecting 12 hits in the opener. On the mound, senior Jordan Emery (Salem, Ore.) went the distance allowing 10 runs (all earned) on 17 hits to go along with a game-high four strikeouts.
For Concordia, Brad Himes, Casey McLeod, and Ingram each went 3-for-4 at the plate to go along with a pair of Cavalier pitching performances. Ross Conway took the hill to begin for Concordia, going 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits before giving way to Brett Hawley for the game's final 1.1 innings.
Game #2 - Concordia 6, Corban 5
In the night cap, Concordia got single runs in the first, fourth, and seventh inning as Corban put a single run on the board in the top of the fourth inning via Flores first home run of the season -- a solo shot to lead off the inning.
In the top of the eighth inning, Corban exploded for four runs on three hits as Johnson began things with a single up the middle before having freshman Nathan Hickok (Sherwood, Ore.) pinch run for him. Junior Rondie Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) and freshman Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for sophomore pinch-hitter Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.). Warner did not waste his opportunity, as the right-handed hitting outfielder registered an RBI single to bring home Hickok. McGraw then followed Warner's performance with a two-run RBI single to center field that brought home the Taylor brothers. Freshman Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) then added the Warriors' fourth run of the inning, as the first-year player reached via an error by Concordia's shortstop that allowed Warner to score from third.
After both teams were held scoreless in each of their next at-bats, Concordia went into the final frame trailing by two runs (5-3). Ingram began things for the Cavaliers with a single up the middle before Myron walked forcing Corban's second-year head coach Nate Mayben to make a pitching change. Flores, who was on in relief of junior Brandon Wolters (Gresham, Ore.), proceeded to hit Sean Strachan to load the bases before Roberto Reyes reached via a fielder's choice that allowed Ingram to score. With runners on first and third, Reyes advanced to second via a pass ball before Lanier was intentionally walked with first base open. With the bases loaded for the second time in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ryan Sussenguth reached safely via a Warrior error that allowed Tyler Anderson to score the game-tying run and Reyes to score the walk-off, game-winning run.
Corban was led offensively by McGraw, Flux, and Johnson who each registered two hits in the finale to go along with single hits from Flores and Warner. Junior Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.) began on the hill for the Warriors, going the first 6.0 innings while allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits to go along with a game-high eight K's. Junior Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska) came on in relief for 1.0 inning in which he allowed a single earned run on two hits before giving way to Wolters for the eighth inning. Wolters pitched one-plus innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on a single hit before handing the ball to Flores. The senior right-handed side-arm pitcher, who suffered the loss, allowed one unearned run in 0.1 innings of work.
Offensively, McLeod and Strachan led Concordia with a pair of two-hit performances while Jason Grisham took the hill for the Cavaliers for the first 7.2 innings allowing three earned runs on five hits before giving way to a pair of relievers. Kyle Corwin faced a mere three batters in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits before handing the ball over to Zac Manor. Manor, who picked up the win, pitched 1.1 innings giving up a mere hit in relief.
With the losses, Corban falls to 6-15 overall, 3-7 in NAIA Region I action. Meanwhile, Concordia improves to 7-16 overall, 6-5 in NAIA Region I play. The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday, April 1st, when Corban host NCAA Division II member Western Oregon in a single nine-inning game beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Warrior Field.
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