Fitchett pitches two-hitter in victory over Eastern Oregon

May 5, 2006

BOX SCORE

Junior Scott Fitchett pitched his 2nd complete game of the season thanks to a 2-hit shutout that earned the right hander his third straight victory. (Photo courtesy of Mark Colachico)

SALEM, Ore. – Junior right hander Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho) faced one batter over the limit en route to hurling a 2-hit complete game shutout, as Corban’s baseball team kicked off senior weekend with a 7-0 victory over the Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon today on Warrior Field.

The reigning conference Pitcher of the Week surrendered singles in the 2nd and 8th innings, but the Warrior defense hung tough on both occasions and got out of the innings unharmed.

Following a quick 1-2-3 inning for Eastern Oregon, Corban struck for a pair of runs in the 1st inning on 3 hits.  Sophomore Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) and junior Ryan Heil (Medford, Ore.) led off the stanza with back-to-back bunt singles and followed one batter later with a double steal.  Junior all-conference member Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) knocked in the game’s first run with a ground out to second that scored McGraw from third.  Senior Jesse Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) tacked on another run with a single through the left side that scored Heil for an early 2-0 lead.

In the 3rd inning, Corban struck again for 3 runs on 3 hits that included an RBI single to left field by senior Brian Nelson (Lebanon, Ore.) that extended his hitting streak to ten games.  Frantz drove in the Warriors’ other two runs via a single to left field that scored Heil and Nelson.

Corban capped its scoring in the 5th inning when Gaylord hit a ground-rule double down the right field line that scored Nelson from third.  After a balk moved Gaylord to third, sophomore Scott Flux (Salem, Ore.) drove in the game’s final run on a single up the middle.

The Warriors were led by a quartet of players – McGraw, Heil, Nelson, and Gaylord – that had two hits each, while Frantz and Flux registered a hit apiece.

The Mountaineers were led by Mark Yanez and Brandon Ferguson, who registered 1-for-4 and 1-for-3 days respectively.

Fitchett went the distance to pick up his third straight victory, while Eastern Oregon’s starter Joe Robinson went 4 1/3 innings and allowed 7 runs (all earned) on 9 hits before turning the ball over to reliever Kevin Alderson for the final 3 2/3 innings.

With the win, Corban improves to 12-28 overall, 7-21 in Region I play. Eastern Oregon falls to 12-28 overall, 8-19 in Region I action. The same two teams will conclude the regular season on Saturday, May 6th, in a conference double header beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.  Corban’s three seniors – Nelson, Jesse Gaylord, and Josh Gaylord (Portland, Ore.) – will be honored between games for their years of service to the baseball program.