Corban Holds Off Bearcats for 6-4 Win in Baseball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Five pitchers for Corban University combined on a five-hitter, allowing just one hit apiece, helping the Warriors defeat crosstown rival Willamette University, 6-4, on Tuesday, March 25 at Warrior Field. Willamette trailed by three runs entering the top of the ninth inning, but scored once and had the bases loaded when the game ended.

Corban improved to 16-13 as a result of the non-conference win. Willamette fell to 13-10, but the Bearcats have won seven of their last 10 games.

The Bearcats nearly pulled off a comeback in the ninth inning. Tosh Semlacher (Sr., RF, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) reached base on a fielder's choice and eventually scored to cut Corban's lead to two runs. He crossed the plate when Rolenn Himuro (Jr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) hit into a fielder's choice for the second out.

Willamette had runners on all three bases after Tommy Kawamura (Sr., 2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) was hit by a pitch, but Austin Reames of Corban was able to force Brandon Chinn (Sr., RF/1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) into a groundout to second base to end the game.

Koon (Jr., C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored for Willamette, while Tommy Kawamura (Sr., SS/2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Scott Dreier of Corban finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Daniel Orr went 2 for 4, scored twice and drove in two runs. Dreier and Orr each hit one double for the Warriors.

Both teams scored once in the first inning.

For the Bearcats, Kawamura singled through the left side as the game's first batter. He went to second on a passed ball and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Chinn. Kawamura scored when Hunter Gallant (Jr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) grounded out.

Marc Gallegos, the leadoff batter for Corban, beat out single toward second base. He stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error. Jordan Johansen drove in Gallegos with a single between first and second.

There were no outs in the inning, but WU starter Albert Garcia (So., LHP, Broomfield, CO/Broomfield HS) got Orr to fly out, and Johansen was thrown out on a stolen base attempt. Dreier flied out to center field to end the inning.

Corban threatened to score in the second inning with three hits. After the first hit, WU turned a rare 1-6-4-3 double play on a ball that glanced off Garcia's glove. Two more singles followed, but a runner was caught stealing for the third out, prevented the Warriors from plating a run.

Willamette took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Austin Hagarty (So., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) reached first on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice by Himuro. An infield singled by Karamura sent Hagarty to third. Chinn belted a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Hagarty home.

The Warriors tied the game in the fourth inning when Orr doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Benjamin Liogan.

Corban surged into the lead for good with three runs in the fifth. With two outs and runners at second and third, Orr produced a two-run single to right field. Ben Straka and Gallegos scored on the play. Orr reached the plate on a double by Dreier.

Koon singled and scored for Willamette on a fielder's choice by Himuro in the top of the seventh. Johansen reached base on an error and later scored on a single by Dreier in the bottom of the seventh to give Corban a 6-3 lead.

Gober, the third player to pitch for the Warriors, received the win and went to 2-1 on the season. He allowed one unearned run in two innings on the mound. Reames earned a save. Willamette reliever Garrett Davis (Sr., RHP, Marysville, WA/Pilchuck HS) dropped to 0-1 with the loss.

Willamette will host Pacific University in a Northwest Conference series this weekend at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats and Boxers are set to play two games on Saturday, March 29, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will complete the series with one game at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.