Corban Edges Willamette, 8-7, with a Run in the 11th Inning

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Corban University defeated Willamette University, 8-7 in 11 innings, on Tuesday, April 9 at Warrior Field. Corban first baseman Peter Martin, who hit a bloop double down the left field line to start the bottom of the 11th inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run on a single by left fielder Kyle Kunkel.

The Warriors rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 7-4 to claim the victory. Corban tied the game and forced extra innings by scoring three runs in the eighth inning.

With the win, Corban improved to 23-17 on the season, while Willamette fell to 11-18. It was the second extra-inning win for the Warriors over the Bearcats this spring. Corban, which achieved an 8-7 win in 10 innings over Willamette on Feb. 18, moved to 3-0 versus the Bearcats.

Kunkel finished the game 4 of 6 and drove in three runs. He hit a solo home run as the first batter in the bottom of the second inning. Six other Corban players registered two hits apiece, as the Warriors outhit the Bearcats, 18-9. Lathan Alger hit the game's only triple, while Martin finished with two doubles.

For Willamette, Brandon Chinn (Jr., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) was 3 for 5 with an RBI. Hunter Gallant (So., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) went 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Tosh Semlacher (Jr., RF, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) concluded the game 2 for 5 with two runs, a walk and an RBI.

The Bearcats took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and extended the lead to 5-0 with another run in the second stanza.

Willamette opened the game with Tyson Giza (Sr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) walking and Austin Hagarty (Fr., 2B, Rosevill, CA/Woodcreek HS) being hit by a pitch. Gallant batted next and drove in the first run with a single to right center.

Semlacher and Ben Petersen (Sr., C, Rocklin, CA/Butte College) received walks to force in another run.

Corban starting pitcher Justin White left the game without recording an out. Chinn then singled up the middle off reliever Andy Thiessen, sending Gallant across the plate. Matt Hirsch (Fr., SS, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale HS) was hit by a pitch, allowing Semlacher to score. A fly out and a double play ended the threat.

Giza was hit by a pitch to start the second inning. He scored three batters later on a two-out single by Semlacher.

Corban cut the lead to 5-4, before Willamette tallied single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Warriors created three runs on four hits in the bottom of the eighth. Alger batted first and blasted the ball into right field. Semlacher covered plenty of ground and nearly made a catch. He appeared to grab the ball, but slipped on the edge of the warning track and the ball fell out.

After William Koenig walked, Landon Frost singled to bring home Alger. A well-placed bunt toward third became a single for Nate Williams, loading the bases. Jordan Johansen hit into a 6-4-3 double play, but Koenig scored.

Jeremiah Forrister sent a low fly ball into shallow center field, and Giza made a diving attempt to record the third out. He missed the ball, as Frost reached home and Forrister went to second with a double.

Willamette nearly scored a go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth when Tiras Koon (So., C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) powered the ball deep into right center field. He almost hit a home run, but the ball hit at the base of the outfield fence. Koon was left on second when the inning ended.

The score remained 7-7 until Martin scored the winning run in the 11th inning. The Bearcats had a chance to score in the top of the 11th, when Gallant and Semlacher singled with two outs. Johansen, who pitched the last four innings for Corban, struck out Koon to end the inning.

WU returns to action this weekend by hosting a Northwest Conference series against Whitman College at John Lewis Field. The series is scheduled to begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will complete the series with one game on Sunday, April 14, also at 12 p.m.