Corban Defeats Willamette, 5-3, at Volcanoes Stadium

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

KEIZER, ORE. -- Corban University starting pitcher Justin White gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to help the Warriors defeat Willamette University, 5-3, in a non-conference night game at Volcanoes Stadium on Monday, Feb. 27. Corban improved to 8-2, while Willamette fell to 2-8.

The Warriors held a 4-2 lead when White left the game in the sixth inning. Corban added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, before WU tallied one run in the top of the eighth. The Bearcats threatened again in the ninth inning, but left the bases loaded.

White improved to 3-1 with the pitching victory, while Ryan Rodriguez picked up his third save. White struck out five batters and gave up four walks. Willamette starter Tyler Olson (Fr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) gave up four runs -- three earned -- in four innings and dropped to 0-3.

Designated hitter Colby Sokol went 3 for 3 for Corban with one run and one RBI. Steven Blum was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. Lance Foster was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Cody Atkinson hit the game's only triple.

Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Brandon Chinn (So., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) each went 2 of 4 with a double for the Bearcats. Giza also walked once and achieved one RBI. Chinn earned one stolen base and scored one run.

Corban tallied two runs with two outs in the first inning. Tyler Atkinson singled to left field and Sokol singled to right. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third before Blum hit a two-RBI double.

The Bearcats cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third. With one out, Chinn belted a double to left center. Giza drove in Chinn with another double one out later. Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) flied out to center field for the third out.

Three hits and an error led to two runs for the Warriors in their next at bat. Gregg Romero singled up the middle with one out, and went to second on a wild pitch. Lance Foster pinch hit and reached base on a throwing error by Tanner Oates (Fr., 2B, Sparks, NV/Spanish Springs HS). Oates made a nice play to field the ball just past the infield, but threw wide of first base.

Romero scored on the play, while Foster went to second. Foster reached third on a single by Sokol and scored on a single by Blum. A line-out by Cody Atkinson and a groundout by Jonathan Ramirez concluded the inning with two runners left on base.

The score stayed 4-1 until the top of the sixth, when WU scored its second run. Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) walked with one out and went to second base on a walk issued to Sky Kelley (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS). Tiras Koon (Fr., DH/C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) brought Rowan home with a single to left field.

Cody Atkinson sent a triple into the right field corner to start the bottom of the sixth, but WU reliever Henry Harrison (So., LHP, Nevada City, CA/Nevada Union HS) got out of the jam by striking out three consecutive batters.

Foster doubled for Corban with two outs in the seventh. Sokol followed with an RBI single, allowing Foster to score and increase CU's advantage to 5-2.

In Willamette's half of the eighth inning, Rowan walked for the third time. He went to second and third on a pair of wild pitches, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Tosh Semlacher (So., 3B, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS). WU scored the run without a hit, but still pulled within 5-3.

The Bearcats threatened to rally in the top of the ninth.

Chinn flied out to center field to begin the stanza, but Hunter Gallant (Fr., 2B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) walked and Giza singled to left center. Kawamura lined out to second base, but both runners avoided a double play. Rowan received his fourth walk -- in five trips to the plate -- to load the bases.

Rodriguez, who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for Corban, completed the save by striking out pinch-hitter Brad Breier (Fr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS).

Corban outhit the Bearcats, 11-7. WU committed two errors, while Corban was credited with one error. The game took place in cold and dry conditions, with most of the contest played under the lights.

The Bearcats will host Pacific Lutheran University in a Northwest Conference series on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4. On Friday, the teams will play a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. (PST). The series will conclude with one game on Saturday, with the first pitch set for 12 p.m.