NAIA Baseball: Corban Wins Fourth Straight

With the win, Corban improves to 9-12-1 overall.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - Senior Brett Timmerman recorded the game-winning hit -- a single up the middle -- that scored a pair of runs in the 8th inning, as Corban's baseball team defeated fellow NAIA member Simpson, 5-3, to earn its fourth straight victory at Warrior Field on Tuesday.

First-year head coach Nate Mayben used eight different pitchers, as senior Zeke Clayton got the start and allowed the game's first two runs in the top of the first, as Simpson used four singles en route to producing the two spot on the board.

Fortunately for Clayton and the Warriors, Corban tied the game at 2-all in the third inning when junior Justin Trammell executed a bunt that was fielded by Simpson's first baseman and thrown into the dirt, allowing senior Kyle Myers to score from third.

Two batters later, Trammell scored the tying run when freshman Josh Warner singled to the short stop allowing Corban's second run of the game to cross the plate.

Neither team scored in the 4th and 5th inning until the visiting Redhawks put a single run on the board in the 6th inning when sophomore Jason Braun allowed 3 hits in the stanza.

Simpson started with a single up the middle by Brett Miller before pinch hitter Jordan Kunde single to left field allowing Miller, who advanced to third via a ground out and stolen base, to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the inning, junior Jamie McGraw opened with double to left center before Warner registered his second hit of the day -- a bunt single to third base.

Senior Ryan Heil then singled to the pitcher via another bunt that scored McGraw and tied the game for the second time.

Sophomore reliever Eric Clifford and senior Scott Fitchett shut down the visiting Redhawks in the seventh and eighth inning, which allowed Corban to put the winning runs on the board.

The eighth inning began with a ground out before Warner got a single to short and then stole second.

Heil reached first on an error by Simpson's catcher despite striking out before senior Jeremy Frantz was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out and promptly set up the stage for Timmerman's game-winning heroics.

Timmerman roped a single up the middle that scored both Warner and Heil and propelled Corban to its fourth straight win in the past five days.

Warner led the Warriors' hitting barrage with a 3-for-4 performance that included a run scored, while sophomore Craig Spicer and four other Warriors -- McGraw, Heil, Timmerman, and Myers -- each registered hits on the day.

Fitchett picked up the win, going 2.0 scoreless innings on the mound, and struck out a pair of Redhawk hitters.

For Simpson, Kenny Button turned in a 2-for-4 performance, while five other Redhawks recorded hits off Warrior pitching.

Blake Cull took the loss, as the left-hander went 7.1 innings of work, allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 9 hits and fanned a game-high 9 Corban batters.

With the win, Corban improves to 9-12-1 overall, while Simpson falls to 2-20 on the season.

The Warriors return to action on Friday, March 23rd, when they take on the nation's top-ranked team, Lewis-Clark State, beginning at 6:00 PM in Lewiston, Idaho.

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