Sophomores sizzle, Warriors fizzle in loss to Boxers of Pacific

April 11, 2006

BOX SCORE

Sophomore Darren Johnson scored 2 of the Warriors' 6 runs against Pacific, while going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. (Photo by Charissa Hunter)

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Sophomores Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) and Ryan Porter (Keizer, Ore.) went a combined 4-for-7 with 2 runs scored and 3 runs batted in, but it was not enough as Corban’s baseball team had its come-from-behind attempt thwarted en route to a loss to the Boxers of Pacific (Ore.), 8-6, at Bond Field. 

Corban began the scoring in the 3rd inning when Johnson scored on a fielder’s choice that saw senior Brian Nelson (Lebanon, Ore.) advance from second to third on a throwing error only to get thrown at the plate by Pacific’s first baseman to end the stanza.

In the Boxers’ half of the 3rd inning, Pacific put 6 runs on the board on 4 hits.  The Boxer scoring began with a single by Nick Williams that scored Brad Baker.  Robert Lloyd followed with a 2-run single to left field that scored both Mark Saito and Scott Yasumoto.  Two batters later, Zach Gantenbein registered a 2-run single up the middle that scored Lloyd and Williams.  Jeff Johnston capped the Boxer scoring with another single up the middle that scored Gantenbein from second. 

The Warriors cut the Boxers’ lead to 6-5 following a 4-run sixth inning that saw Porter connect on his 1st home run of the season – a 3-run shot to right center – that scored sophomore Doug Gausepohl (Murrieta, Calif.) and junior Kyle Myers (Canyon City, Ore.).  Sophomore Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) scored the final run of the inning for Corban via a throwing error by Pacific’s left fielder.

Pacific tacked on its final two runs in the 7th inning via a Jeff Johnston double down the left field line that plated Lloyd and Ryan Raagas.

Corban attempted a comeback in the 9th inning when Johnson led off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman.  Nelson flied out to right field, advancing Johnson to third, before junior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) brought the 6-foot second-year player home with an infield ground out.  One batter later, senior Jesse Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) flew out to left field for the final out of the game.

Junior starter Brett Timmerman (Medford, Ore.) went the first 4.0 innings for Corban, allowing 6 runs (all earned) on 4 hits before making way for a quartet of Warrior pitchers.  Sophomore Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska), freshman Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.), junior Bryan Bernard (Salem, Ore.), and junior Zeke Clayton (Myrtle Creek, Ore.) combined to throw the final 4.0 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits.

Johnson finsihed the day a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while McGraw, Porter, and Myers each collected a hit against Pacific pitching.  Johnson, McGraw, Myers, and Gausepohl accounted for all 6 Warrior runs, while Porter and Frantz recorded the Corban RBIs.

Pacific was led by Lloyd, who went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in.  Starter Chris Loo pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits to pick up the win before turning the ball over to a trio of Boxer pitchers that included Blaine Kunth, who pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn the save.

Corban falls to 7-19 overall, while Pacific improves to 19-13 overall.  The Warriors return to conference play on Wednesday, April 12th, when they match up in an afternoon double header with Concordia University beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.