#1-Ranked Lewis-Clark State Sweeps Corban

With the losses, Corban falls to 5-10 on the season while Lewis-Clark State moves to 20-2 overall.

Scott Flux Photo courtesy: Corban Sports Information

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Junior Craig Spicer and senior Scott Flux each recorded a pair of hits in Friday's doubleheader, as Corban's baseball team fell, 8-6 & 18-1, to the NAIA's top-ranked Warriors of Lewis-Clark State Friday at Roy Helser Field on the campus of Linfield College.

In the opener, Spicer led the Warriors' offense with a 2-for-4 performance before Flux was the offensive leader for Corban in the night cap with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.

Game #1 -- Lewis-Clark State 8, Corban 6

In today's first game, the visiting Warriors of Lewis-Clark State put seven runs on the board in the first two innings before Corban got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with five runs.

In the third frame, Corban sent 11 batters to the plate with junior Rondie Taylor opening the inning with a single to left field before sophomore Mitch Riddle walked. The very next batter -- senior Jamie McGraw -- struck out swinging before freshman Nathan Hickok drew a walk to load the bases. Spicer then came up and registered a dribbler back to third base that allowed everyone to advance one base and put the Warriors' first run on the board. Immediately following Spicer's RBI single, senior Daniel Flores came to the plate and registered a single back to the pitcher allowing sophomore pinch-runner John Kazmierski to score from third base. Flux then registered an RBI single to right field that scored the Warriors' third run of the inning before senior Darren Johnson was hit by a pitch to bring home Spicer. The very next batter -- freshman Kyle Taylor -- sent a ground ball back to LCSC's pitcher, who decided to come home but pulled L-C State's catcher Travis Georguis off the plate with a wide throw allowing Flores to score from third to cap the Warriors' scoring for the inning.

After Lewis-Clark State tacked another run on the board in the top half of the fourth inning, Corban put another run on the board to pull within two runs (8-6). McGraw was hit by a pitch to open the inning before Spicer reached via a throwing error by LCSC's third baseman two batters later that allowed McGraw to score from second after advancing via a balk.

Neither team could put another run on the board for the remainder of the game, as both pitching staffs buckled down to shut down the opposing team's bats.

Corban's offense was led by Spicer, while four other Warriors -- McGraw, Flores, Flux, and Rondie Taylor -- each recorded a hit with Corban's #3, #4, #5, and #6 batters registering runs batted in.

Pitching-wise for Corban, senior Jordan Emery started on the hill for the Warriors going the first 6.0 innings allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits before turning the ball over to sophomore reliever Josh Warner for the game's final three innings.

Offensively for Lewis-Clark State, Kyle Greene went 4-for-5 with three RBIs to go along with Sean Halton's 2-for-3 performance. Matt Fitts began the game for the LCSC Warriors, going the first 5.0 innings allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits before turning the ball over to Nick Masters, who pitched the game's final 4.0 innings to earn the save.

Game #2 -- Lewis-Clark State 18, Corban 1

In the night cap, Lewis-Clark State scored two runs in the first inning, four in the fifth, five in the seventh, five in the eighth, and two in the ninth before Corban got on the board.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, sophomore Matt Schmidt led off the final frame with a single to right field before advancing to second on senior Justin Trammell's ground out to the pitcher. The next batter -- Flores -- roped a double into the left field gap to score Schmidt for the Warriors' lone run of today's finale.

On the mound for Corban, junior Jason Braun began the game going the first 6.0 innings allowing six runs (all earned) on 12 hits before turning the ball over to a trio of Warrior relievers. Freshman Nate Hiebert, Hickok, and freshman Chris Trammell combined to pitching the game's final three innings for Corban.

Lewis-Clark State was led offensively by Brian Ward, who went a perfect 3-for-3 that included the afternoon's lone home run -- a three-run blast to left center. Mickey Pingree registered a 4-for-5 afternoon to go along with Brian Bolwitt's perfect 2-for-2 showing and Greene's 2-for-4 output at the plate in the finale.

On the mound, Tyler Knigge made his first appearance of the season for LCSC and went the opening 6.0 innings, allowing zero runs on a pair of hits before turning the ball over to Dustin Willis for the game's final 3.0 innings.

With the losses, Corban falls to 5-10 on the season while Lewis-Clark State moves to 20-2 overall. The same two teams are back in action on Saturday, March 15th, with a single nine-inning game beginning at noon at Roy Helser Field on the campus of Linfield College in McMinnville.

Source: Corban Sports Information

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