Corban Earns 12-5 Win Over NCAA DIII Member Pacific

Freshman Eric Fry earned his first collegiate victory for Corban.

Corban junior Darren Johnson Photo: Corban Athletics

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Junior Darren Johnson went 3-for-5 at the plate and drove in a season and career-high five RBIs, as Corban's baseball team avenged an earlier season loss and earned a 12-5 win over NCAA Division III member Pacific (Ore.) on Tuesday at Hillsboro Stadium.

Corban used a five-run second inning to build the momentum they needed to secure the much-needed victory and split the team's season series with the Boxers.

The Warriors' five-run second inning turning out to be the deciding stanza, as Corban went on to scored two runs in the fifth, two runs in the sixth, and three more runs in the eighth for the final tally of twelve.

Corban's pitching, meanwhile, limited Pacific to five runs on just three hits as first-year head coach Nate Mayben sent six different pitchers to the hill on the afternoon.

Freshman Eric Fry earned his first collegiate victory for Corban, as the right-hander allowed three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

The Warriors opened the fateful second with four hits from their first five batters, including an RBI single by Johnson and a two RBI single by junior Scott Flux.

Senior Jeremy Frantz added the final two runs of the frame with a long single to center field before Johnson added two more runs on an RBI double to center field in the fifth.

Sophomore Craig Spicer and freshman Matt Schmidt added runs in the sixth with a pair of RBI hits.

Senior Brett Timmerman opened scoring in the eight when his single scored senior Kyle Myers and Johnson's double down the left field line scored Spicer and Timmerman.

Pacific scored their first run in the fifth when Scott Yasumoto scored on a double steal. Zach Gantenbein and Nick McNeely scored runs in the sixth on a pair of RBI singles.

The Boxers scored a single run in the seventh when Robbie Newbill plated on Dominic Coca's ground out and McNeely scored in the eighth on Nate McBride's ground out.

Spicer led Corban by going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and a RBI, while Johnson turned in a 3-for-5 performance with a career-high five RBIs.

Three other Warriors -- senior Ryan Heil, Timmerman, and Flux -- collected two hits each, while Frantz, Schmidt, junior Justin Trammell, and freshman Josh Warner each registered a hit against Pacific pitching.

On the mound, junior Jordan Emery, sophomore Jason Braun, Fry, sophomore Brandon Wolters, Flux, and senior Scott Fitchett combined to throw the complete eight innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on three hits, while striking out a combined six batters.

Gantenbein, McNeely and Newbill had Pacific's lone hits on the afternoon.

Pacific starter Allen Sugiyama took his third loss of the season, allowing eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts in five innings.

Besides Sugiyama's performance on the hill, Andrew Curtin, Sean Lindsay, and Ryne Miyamoto combined to throw 4.0 innings, allowing 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, while fanning three Warrior hitters.

With its first win in a week, Corban surpasses last season's win total and improves to 10-15-1 overall.

Meanwhile, Pacific drops its fourth in a row, including 7 of its last 8 games, to fall to 6-13 on the season.

The Warriors return to regional and conference action on Friday, March 30th, when they welcome Cascade Collegiate Conference rival Concordia to Warrior Field for nine-inning contest beginning at 3:00 PM.

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