Warriors drop heart breaker to Thunderbirds of British Columbia

April 1, 2006

BOX SCORE

Sophomore Jordan Emery recorded his team-leading 2nd complete game of the season, throwing all 7.0 innings, and struck out 6 Thunderbird batters in the process. (Photo by Charissa Hunter)

SALEM, Ore. – For the second straight season, Corban’s baseball team had a chance to end the Thunderbirds of British Columbia’s regional winning streak and had the bases loaded in the 7th inning and UBC's back against the wall.  Unfortunately for the Warriors, UBC’s Brendan Rolfe struck out the only batter he faced to end the Warrior threat and secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Warrior Field. 

In what was scheduled to be an afternoon double header, rains throughout the first game forced both coaches to postpone the second game due to unsafe field conditions until Friday, April 21st, when the two teams will meet in a double header scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Corban got things rolling in the 1st inning when sophomore Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) led off with an infield single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by fellow sophomore Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.).  Senior Brian Nelson (Lebanon, Ore.) roped an RBI single to right center that drove in McGraw from second and gave the Warriors the early one-run lead.

In the 2nd inning, UBC’s designated hitter Steve Bell-Irving tied the game at 1-apiece with a home run to right center off Corban’s sophomore starter Jordan Emery (Salem, Ore.).

Neither team scored again until Corban pushed a single run across the plate in the 5th inning via a two-out single up the middle by junior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) that almost took off the head of UBC’s starter Jeff Tobin.  Frantz seeing-eye single scored McGraw from third and gave the Warriors another lead, 2-1.

The Thunderbirds took the lead for good in the 6th inning when Bell-Irving singled to right center with the bases loaded scoring Tyler Willson from third and Johnny Yiu from second.

McGraw was hit by a pitch to open Corban’s final stanza and then advanced one base on Johnson’s second sacrifice bunt of the game.  McGraw then moved to third on a wild pitch by UBC’s Brad Ashman.  With the game-tying run 90 feet away and only one out, Nelson lined out to second with a drawn-in infield.  Following back-to-back walks by UBC’s closer Joey Benda that loaded the bases, Thunderbirds’ head coach Terry McKaig brought in Brendan Rolfe to face Timmerman.  After falling behind 3-0 to Corban’s left-handed hitting left fielder, Rolfe came back with three straight strikes via the fast ball to earn the save, keep UBC’s regional winning streak alive, and break the hearts of Warrior FAN-atics.

Nelson finished the day 3-for-4, while Frantz and Timmerman each registered 2-for-3 performances.  Emery went the distance pitching all 7.0 innings, allowing 3 runs (all earned) on 7 hits and struck out 6 Thunderbird batters.

British Columbia was led by Bell-Irving, who went 2-for-3 and had a hand in all three Thunderbird runs.  Tobin went 5.0 innings to secure the win, allowing 2 runs (all earned) on 7 hits before handing the ball over to a trio of Thunderbird pitchers.  Brad Ashman, Joey Benda, and Rolfe combined for 2.0 innings of shut out ball, allowing a mere 1 hit and struck out 3 Warrior batters.

Corban is now 6-16 overall, 1-11 in NAIA Region I action.  British Columbia improves to 24-7 overall, 15-0 in NAIA Region I play.  The Warriors are next in action on Tuesday, April 4th, when they match up with NCAA Division II foe Western Oregon beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Monmouth.