By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
KEIZER, Ore. -- Corban University scored two runs in the seventh inning and added two more in the eighth to extend a 1-0 lead into a 5-0 victory over the Willamette University Bearcats in a baseball at Volcanoes Stadium on Wednesday, April 6. Corban advanced its record to 14-19 on the season, while the Bearcats fell to 17-16.
Four Corban pitchers combined to limit Willamette to three hits -- all singles. The Warriors finished with 10 hits, including a solo home run by Zach Penrod in the seventh inning.
Willamette's hits were recorded by second baseman Austin Hagarty (Sr., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS), left fielder Jake Bradley (Fr., Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) and catcher Jacob Parra (Jr., Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC). Parra also earned five putouts on strikeouts by Bearcat pitchers, to go along with two assists.
The Warriors threatened to score in the second inning, when Corban batters recorded three consecutive singles with two outs. Bradley Cock flied out to left field to end the threat.
Corban plated the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth. Braden Wolgamott walked to start the inning. Kyle Kilian singled to right field, advancing Wolgamott to third.
Killian attempted to reach second on the throw to third, but he was thrown out when Kyle Paguio (Fr., 3B, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS) relayed the ball to shortstop Aaron Fong (So., SS, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School). Alexi Storaci drove in Wolgamott by grounding out to Fong.
The pitcher's duel continued until the bottom of the seventh, when Corban tallied a pair of insurance runs for a 3-0 lead. With one out, Penrod brought in the first run with a solo homer to right field. Jackson Smith followed with a double, and gave way to pinch-runner Ryan Rosas. A ground out allowed Rosas to reach third, and then Tyler Reitz walked. Rosas later scored on a double-steal.
In the eighth inning, the Warriors pushed two additional runs across the plate. The first two batters, Davis Alderman and Jalen Garcia, became base runners following fielding errors at first base. They eventually scored unearned runs. After back-to-back strikeouts, Penrod hit a single to score Alderman. Rosas drove in Garcia with another single.
Corban's second pitcher Jonathan Russomano threw during the fifth and sixth innings, and allowed no runs and just one hit to earn the win. He moved to 2-0 on the season.
Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS), WU's second pitcher, tossed the third and fourth stanzas. He allowed just one hit, one walk and one run, but fell to 1-5 with the loss.
Penrod finished 3 for 4 at the plate for Corban. He scored one run and earned two RBIs. Rosas went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Willamette does not play this weekend due to a bye in the NWC schedule. The Bearcats will host the current NWC leaders from Whitworth University in a three-game series on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 at John Lewis Field.
