Corban Fights Back to Force Series Split on Day Two

LA GRANDE, Ore. – After sweeping the Warriors on day one, Eastern Oregon got a taste of their own medicine on day two as the Warriors stormed back taking both games. Corban put their foot on the gas early in game one and never looked back earning a seven-inning 21-3 victory that saw 5 players recorded 3 hits each. Game two appeared to be heading the same direction, but the Mounties fought back scoring 8 runs in the final three innings. The deficit was too much to overcome as Corban took game two 15-10.

With two losses on the day Eastern Oregon falls to 8-7 on the season while Corban doubled their win total on the season moving to 4-13 on the season. This weekend wrapped up non-conference play for both teams.

Up next for the Mountaineers is a four-game series with the Owls of Oregon Tech. Eastern will hit the road to start CCC action with two games on Saturday (March 2) and Sunday (March 3).

GAME 1
The first game of the day saw an offensive explosion for Corban as they racked up 19 hits en route to a 21-3 victory in seven innings. The Warriors drove home four runs in the second inning highlighted by a bases clearing double off the bat of Brad Pellkofer. Corban then doubled down and added 6 more runs in the third and fourth innings each to put the game out of reach. A hot offense combined with a 3-run complete game from starting pitcher Avery Williamson sealed the game.

Key Performers
EOU

  • Trevor Baker: 1/3, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

CRB

  • Brad Pellkofer: 3/3, HR, 2B, 7 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
  • Ryan Clay: 3/4, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB
  • Nainoa Ka’ahanui: 3/5, 3 RBI, 1 R
  • Avery Williamson: W, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K

GAME 2
Game two got off to a similar start as the Warriors jumped ahead early this time utilizing some extra power. Corban started off the game with two homers in the first three pitches as Hayden Wilson pulled one to left followed by a bomb to right off the bat of Ryan Clay. Two innings later two more Warriors left the yard as Nainoa Ka’ahanui and Nathaniel Gutierrez both sent one over the center field wall in the third to make it a 6-0 game. Corban continued to add on to their lead and nearly clinched another mercy-rule victory but Eastern Oregon’s Tommy Whiles refused to let the Mounties go down without a fight cranking a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to make it 13-5.The Warriors added a couple more insurance runs before the Mounties put up another flurry of 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth including an Easton Lasich homer, but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors took game two 15-10.

Key Performers
EOU

  • Tommy Whiles: 1/3, Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 1 R
  • Easton Lasich: 2/6, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
  • Rogelio Gonzales: 3/5, 1 R

CRB

  • Aidan Bray: W, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 K
  • Nathaniel Gutierrez: 2/4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Hayden Wilson: 3/4, HR, 4 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB
  • Nainoa Ka’ahanui: 3/6, HR, 4 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB