SALEM, Ore. – The Mounties were unable to come away from day two of their doubleheader with Corban with a victory on Saturday, falling just one run short in each contest.
GAME ONE
Eastern Oregon took an early lead in game one, with a strong offensive showing in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Parker Cumberland’s double down the left-field line brought in the first run of the game, with Brandon Taddy crossing home plate. The Mountaineers then extended their lead in the fourth inning, with Cumberland and Chase Nett delivering key doubles to bring their total to five runs.
Noah Owens ignited the Warriors’ offense with a powerful homer to left field in the fourth, driving in two runs. Corban continued to chip away at the lead, narrowing the deficit to just one run by the sixth inning.
In the seventh inning, Corban tied the game at 5-5 with a sacrifice fly from Nathaniel Gutierrez. Owens then delivered a crucial single to right field, propelling the Warriors to a 6-5 lead. Eastern Oregon refused to go down without a fight, rallying in the ninth inning to tie the game once again. Trevor Baker’s clutch single to right-center allowed the Mountaineers to level the score at 6-6, sending the game into extra innings.
With the game still notched at six runs in the 11th inning, Gutierrez stepped up to the plate and delivered a dribbler down the first base line that stayed fair, allowing the game-winning run to score for the Warriors.
On the mound, Joe Licari earned the win without allowing any hits or runs in his one inning pitched. Zakaia Michaels was credited with the loss for the Mountaineers.
Eastern Oregon:
Parker Cumberland: 2 Hits, 3 RBIs
Chase Nett: 1 Hit, 2 RBIs
Trevor Baker: 3 Hits, 1 RBI
Corban:
Noah Owens: 4 Hits, 3 RBIs
Nathaniel Gutierrez: 2 Hits, 2 RBIs
Nainoa Kaahanui: 3 Hits
GAME TWO
Corban wasted no time in game two, with Ryan Clay blasting a solo homer to left field in the opening inning, putting them on the scoreboard early.
Eastern Oregon responded in the second inning, with Tyler Balkenbush driving in a run with a single through the right side. However, the Warriors regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Gutierrez’s single up the middle and A. Bunn’s sacrifice fly extended their lead to 3-1.
The Mounties battled back in the third inning, with Mario Landeros’ RBI single closing the gap to just one run. However, Corban struck back after Lucas Mertlich’s two-run homer in the fifth pushed their lead to 6-2.
Eastern Oregon staged a late-game rally in the seventh inning, ignited by Trevor Baker’s RBI single, followed by Tommy Whiles’ two-RBI double, cutting the deficit to just one run. However, Corban capitalized on an error and a wild pitch to extend their lead to 8-5 shortly after.
Both offenses were active in the eighth and ninth innings, with the Mounties managing to narrow the deficit to just one run in the ninth inning, but Corban’s defense held firm, securing the narrow 9-8 victory.
Bryce Bridge earned his first victory of the season for the Warriors, tallying seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
Eastern Oregon:
Joey Freitas: 1 Hit, 1 RBI
Trevor Baker: 2 Hits, 3 runs, 1 RBI
Tommy Whiles: 2 Hits, 2 RBIs
Corban:
Ryan Clay: 3 Hits, 3 Runs, 1 RBI
Lucas Mertlich: 1 Hit, 2 RBIs
Nathaniel Gutierrez: 2 Hits, 1 RBI
The Mountaineers will return to Optimist Field next Saturday, set to take on the Oregon Tech Owls beginning at 11:00 a.m.