Corban Defeats Willamette, 21-13, in Crosstown Rivalry

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Corban University scored five runs in the first inning and added four runs in the top of the second to take a 9-0 lead on its way to a 21-13 win over Willamette University in a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 30 at John Lewis Field. The Warriors improved to 5-17 on the season, while the Bearcats dropped to 9-12.

The game was typical of midweek contests in college baseball, with lots of runs and plenty of hits. Corban and Willamette not only combined for 34 runs, but also produced 35 hits. The Bearcats used a total of 25 players, while 18 players saw action for Corban.

Six pitchers went to the mound for the Bearcats and five pitchers threw for the Warriors.

Four big innings created all of Corban's runs. After building a 9-0 lead in the first 1 1/2 innings, the Warriors tacked on six runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth. WU scored its first two runs in the bottom of the second and used five runs in the bottom of the fourth to get within 15-7.

Willamette also pushed across one run in the bottom of the fifth and achieved the game's final five runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Each team hit four doubles. For Corban, Kyle Taylor, Lance Foster and Joshua Walker each pounded out a double during the five-run first inning. Steven Blum added a double during the second stanza.

For the Bearcats, Max Stepan (Sr., C/DH, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS) doubled and scored WU's first run in the bottom of the second. Stepan leads Willamette with 12 extra-base hits this season and is tied for the team lead with six doubles.

Dylan Summers (Jr., C, Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) of Willamette blasted a two-base hit in the Bearcats' five-run fourth inning. Tosh Semlacher (Fr., UTIL, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) and Ross Knutsen (Sr., C, Warrenton, OR/Seaside HS) each belted a double in the eighth inning to help Willamette score five runs during the stanza.

Tyson Giza (So., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) went 3 for 5 at the plate for the Bearcats. He also walked once, scored twice and earned two RBIs. On defense, Giza made a couple of impressive catches while recording eight putouts in center field.

Stepan was 2 for 2 for Willamette and scored one run. Summers finished 2 for 4 with one run and a team-high three RBIs. Semlacher also went 2 for 4, while scoring once and providing two RBIs. Adam Reid (Jr., OF, San Jose, CA/Lynbrook HS) crossed the plate twice for the Bearcats and Knutsen earned two RBIs.

Tyler Lake of Corban hit the game's only home run, a three-run blast in the fourth inning. Lake was 3 for 5 overall with two runs and four RBIs. Taylor and Blum also registered three hits, with Taylor going 3 for 5 and Blum going 3 for 4. Taylor, Blum and Jonathan Ramirez each tallied three runs for the Warriors. Ramirez also supplied three RBIs.

Corban starting pitcher Chris Trammell was credited with the win, as he improved to 2-0 on the season. Willamette starter Jake Jones (So., RHP, Wilsonville, OR/Wilsonville HS) fell to 0-1 with the loss.

WU relievers Matt Shea (Fr., RHP, Aberdeen, WA/ Montesano HS) and Parker Johnson (So., RHP, Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS) shut down the Warriors in the final four innings. Shea allowed just one hit in two innings on the mound, while Johnson held Corban hitless over the final two stanzas.

The Bearcats will play a Northwest Conference series at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., this weekend. Willamette and Pacific are slated to play two games on Saturday, April 1, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The series will conclude on Sunday, April 2 with a single game starting at 1 p.m.