Corban Pulls Away with Five Runs in Eighth Inning, Defeats Bearcats, 12-5

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Corban University defeated Willamette University, 12-5, in a non-conference baseball game at John Lewis Field on Tuesday, April 2. The Warriors produced 11 hits, but also took advantage of eight walks, three hit batsmen and seven errors by the Bearcats.

Willamette had just five hits, but two were the only extra-base hits of the game, doubles by Hunter Gallant (So., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) and Andrew Wilson (So., OF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS). The Bearcats also walked six times, and three WU batters were hit by pitches.

With the win, Corban improved to 22-13 overall, while Willamette fell to 11-17 on the season. Corban leads the season series, 2-0, including an 8-7 win over the Bearcats in 10 innings on Feb. 18.

Corban tallied three runs in the first inning. The Warriors hit two singles and benefited from a hit batsman and three walks. All three walks came with one out and the bases loaded, as Lance Foster, Marc Labarthe and Lathan Alger each recorded an RBI.

The Bearcats responded with four runs in the bottom of the second. Brad Breier (So., DH/C, Torrance, CA/South HS) walked, Matt Hirsch (Fr., SS, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale HS) was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Brandon Chinn (Jr., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) also walked to load the bases with no outs.

Ben Petersen (Sr., C, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS/Butte College) hit an RBI single through he left side to score Breier. Wilson followed with a double down the left field line to bring home Hirsch and Chinn. Rolenn Himuro (So., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) added a sacrifice fly that scored Petersen from third and gave WU a 4-3 lead.

Each team plated one run in the third inning, before Corban added another tally in the fourth inning to tie the game, 5-5. Landon Frost singled through the left side to open the fourth inning. He advanced to third on a single by Jordan Johansen and scored on a sacrifice fly by Derek Legg.

The Warriors earned two runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead. Jeremiah Forrister scored one of the runs. The second run was recorded by Frost when Foster walked with the bases-loaded walk with two outs.

Corban pulled away with five runs -- four unearned -- in the eighth inning. The Warriors received singles from Nate Williams, Foster and William Koenig, but the Bearcats also contributed to Corban's success by committing five errors during the stanza. Williams and Foster opened the inning with back-to-back hits.

An error while trying to throw out Williams on a bunt by Steven Kha, plus an error at shortstop, allowed Williams to score. Koenig followed with his single to drove in Foster and Kha. When the inning concluded five batters later, the Warriors owned a commanding 12-5 lead.

David Hull, who pitched effectively for Corban as a reliever from the fourth inning through the seventh inning, recorded the win. He improved to 3-1 on the season. WU reliever Zach Holcomb (So., RHP, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) took the loss and moved to 1-1 on the season.

Williams finished 3 for 6 at the plate for the Warriors, while scoring three runs. Frost, Johansen and Foster registered two hits apiece. For Willamette, Petersen was 2 for 2 with a run and two RBIs, while Gallant went 2 for 5 and scored once.

Willamette does not play again until next Tuesday (April 9), when the Bearcats will play at Corban at 4 p.m. (PDT). Corban is scheduled to Menlo College (Calif.) on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6.