Corban Nips Oregon Tech, 4-3

With the win, Corban improves to 7-18 overall, 4-9 in NAIA Region I action.

Junior Brandon Wolters picked up his first-ever collegiate victory today against the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech. Photo courtesy: Corban Sports Information

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Junior Brandon Wolters (Gresham, Ore.) pitched 6.1 innings to earn his first victory of the season to go along with freshman Kyle Lamson's (Medford, Ore.) first career save, as Corban's baseball team picked up a 4-3 victory over Oregon Tech Saturday at Kiger Stadium.

Closing out the three-game weekend series with Oregon Tech, Corban took advantage of 10 hits, including two extra base hits, en route to securing the one-run victory.

Oregon Tech scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Frank Drake singled to drive home Taylor Skinner.

Trailing by a mere run, Corban tallied three runs in the top of the sixth inning as junior Rondie Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) led off with a single before senior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) reached via a fielder's choice. McGraw then advanced to third on freshman Nate Hiebert's (Lebanon, Ore.) single before coming home when junior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.) reached via an error by OIT's shortstop. With the score tied at 1-all and runners on first and second, senior Daniel Flores (San Jose, Calif.) drove home both runners with a double to give the visitors a two-run lead (3-1).

Corban tacked on another run in the top of the seventh inning when freshman Kyle Taylor (Clackamas, Ore.) drove in sophomore Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.) via a run-scoring single.

Down by three runs (4-1), Oregon Tech attempted a come back in the bottom of the seventh inning as Corey Spires belted a two-run home run (his second of the season) following a lead off single by OIT's Dustin Kim Seu to pull the host Owls within a mere run (4-3).

Over the final two innings, each team recorded a hit but no runners crossed the plate as Corban held on to earn its seventh victory of the season.

Wolters went the opening 6.1 innings for the Warriors, allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits to go along with two strikeouts before turning the ball over to Lamson. The freshman right-hander pitched 2.2 innings, allowing a mere hit to go along with a game-high three strikeouts to earn the Warriors' second save of the season.

For Oregon Tech, seven different Owls recorded a hit each to go along with Spires' team-high two RBIs. Casey Burton pitched the opening 7.0 innings for OIT, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out a team-high tying two Warrior hitters before turning the ball over to Shea Bedortha for the game's final 2.0 innings.

With the win, Corban improves to 7-18 overall, 4-9 in NAIA Region I action. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech falls to 12-20 overall, 4-8 in NAIA Region I play. The Warriors are back in action on Tuesday, April 8th, when they travel north to Forest Grove for a 6:00 p.m. contest against NCAA Division III member Pacific (Ore.) at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

Source: Corban Sports Information

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