Corban Edges Past Bearcats, 8-7 in 10 Innings

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

PASCO, WASH. -- Nate Williams of Corban University drove in teammate Matt Hamlin with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Warriors rallied past the Bearcats, 8-7, in the last game of the Swing into Spring Classic on Monday, Feb. 18 at Gesa Stadium. Willamette led 7-5 entering the eighth inning, but the Warriors tallied two runs in the eighth to tie the score.

Corban remained undefeated on the year at 7-0, while Willamette's record fell to 3-3. The Warriors went 5-0 in the tournament and the Bearcats finished 1-2.

Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) went 4 for 5 at the plate, scored one run and drove in one run for Willamette. Brad Breier (So., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) was 2 for 3 with two doubles, one run and one RBI, while Hunter Gallant (So., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored.

Willamette outhit Corban, 12-8, but the Bearcats committed three errors and the Warriors were charged with two errors.

Jordan Johansen registered a 2-for-4 day at the plate for the Warriors. Six other Corban players earned one hit apiece.

Willamette scored one run in the second inning and added one more in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, Gallant walked with one out and moved to second on a single by Matt Hirsch (Fr., SS, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale HS). Corbin Bennett (Fr., 1B, Tustin, CA/Foothill HS) walked to load the bases. Breier belted a sacrifice fly to left field, sending Gallant home. After Gallant scored, Hirsch was doubled off second base to end the inning.

Gallant also scored in the fourth inning, when he was hit by a pitch, stolen second and third, then went home on a wild pitch.

The Warriors brought in three runs in the bottom of the fourth to claim a 3-2 advantage. Johansen doubled to center field and scored two batters later when Lance Foster also doubled. A two-out double by Nate Williams drove in Foster. Williams scored on a single by Marc Labarthe.

WU tallied the next four runs for a 7-3 lead. The Bearcats earned three runs in the fifth inning, after the first three batters reached base. Tommy Kawamura (Sr., 2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) singled and Giza walked, before both runners advanced on a passed ball. Tosh Semlacher (Jr., LF, Gold River, OR/Jesuit HS) drove in Kawamura and Giza with a double to right center.

Semlacher later scored on sacrifice fly by Sky Kelley (Sr., RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS). In the sixth inning, Bennett walked and went on to score on a sacrifice fly by Kawamura.

Corban battled back with two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth. With two outs in the seventh, Gregg Romero walked and eventually scored on a single by Marc Gallegos. After reaching second base, Gallegos scored on a throwing error as Johansen beat out an infield single to third.

In the eighth, Foster walked and Peter Martin singled to open the stanza. Pinch runner Kyle Kunkel scored three batters later when Steven Kha reached base on an error. Alex Bost drove in Martin with a sacrifice fly.

WU had chances to score in the ninth and 10th innings. During the ninth, Kelly was hit by a pitch with no outs. Later, the Bearcats had the bases loaded with one out. The Warriors got out of the inning when they turned a grounder by Brandon Chinn (Jr., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) into a 1-2-3 double play.

In the 10th, Breier started things off with a double down the left field line, but was left at third when the inning ended.

Hamlin singled to left field to start the bottom of the 10th for Corban. Martin used a sacrifice bunt to move him to second, and Hamlin advanced to third on a wild pitch. Williams followed with a fly ball to center field that Giza caught. The sacrifice fly allowed Hamlin to score.

David Hull (1-0) of Corban tossed the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the victory. He allowed no runs and two hits. WU reliever Parker Johnson (Sr., RHP, Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS), who entered the game in the eighth inning with two runners on base and no outs, suffered the loss and fell to 0-1.

Willamette will compete in the CCC/NWC Challenge on Thursday, Feb. 21, Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24. On Thursday, the Bearcats will play Concordia University in Portland, Ore., at 5 p.m. (PST). WU will battle Puget Sound on Saturday at West Linn High School (4 p.m.), and will take on Oregon Institute of Technology on Sunday in McMinnville, Ore., at 11 a.m.