CALDWELL, Idaho – Strong pitching performances by
Hunter Boyd and
Richard Walker and 3-hit days from
Matthew Clay and
Payton Lewis were not enough, as Corban University outlasted the College of Idaho in a key NAIA West Grouping doubleheader at Wolfe Field.
The Warriors (16-26-1, 14-15 NAIA West) took the inside track for a postseason berth with 4-1 and 2-1 victories – limiting C of I to 1-for-15 hitting with runners in scoring position on the afternoon. Corban holds a two and a half game lead on the Yotes (16-29, 10-16) heading into tomorrow's 11 a.m. doubleheader.
C of I struck in the first inning of Game 1 off Corban ace Jonathan Russomano, as Clay doubled with two outs and
Austin Van Horne followed with a bloop RBI single, the Yotes lone hit with a runner in scoring position on the day. Russomano took over, allowing just two hits over his final six innings of work, to earn the win.
The Warriors played small ball in the third to take the lead – as a sacrifice bunt set up a Josh Ebert RBI single – Tanner Marsh followed with a hit and run single to move Ebert to third, eventually scoring on a Maxwell Jeffrey safety squeeze bunt.
Boyd kept Corban in check until two outs in the ninth, when Jared Bell slapped a 2-run double down the left field line to extend the lead. The righty struck out six in his third complete game of 2019.
Marsh and Daniel Freiburger each had two hits for the Warriors, with Clay and Van Horne recording two hits for C of I.
Game 2 was a duel between Walker and Corban's Zach Filos – both arms taking a shutout into the sixth. In the sixth, the Warriors used another sacrifice hit to move a runner to third, scoring on a Jeffrey sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Corban would tack on a key insurance run in the ninth, as Estenio Sede ripped a 2-out RBI single to center.
The Coyotes would break through in the ninth on a Lewis sacrifice fly, but could not get the equalizing run.
Filos allowed eight hits and fanned four in the win, with Jacob Bowser picking up his third save. Walker was outstanding for C of I, allowing just five hits and striking out seven in the loss.
