Game One
Game Two
SALEM, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark baseball team faced Corban College in two non-conference contests on Tuesday afternoon, falling twice to Warriors. Playing two seven inning games, the Warriors picked up a 9-5 win in the first game and a close 5-4 victory in the final game.
Corban got on the board in the bottom of the second inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Pioneers equalized in the top of the next inning, with Giuseppe Baffaro coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Michael Ball.
The Warriors took the lead again in the fourth inning on a two RBI single from Aarason Perry, putting Corban up 3-1. Once again the Pioneers equalized in the top of the next inning, this time getting two runs courtesy of single by Eliot Smith. Smith singled to left center, which allowed Baffaro and Parker Dane to score.
Four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth put Corban on top 7-3. Lewis & Clark earned a run back in the sixth on a single down the right field line from Baffaro that brought Nick Lavin in to score. Corban extended its lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the sixth with runs scored by Jared Fritz and Nate Hiebert.
The Pioneers tried to come back in the top of the seventh, earning a run back but it would not be enough to earn the victory.
Smith finished the first game 3-for-4 from the plate, earning two RBI. Baffaro was 1-for-1 from the plate scoring twice, while reaching base on a walk and catchers interference.
Lance Foster was 2-for-4 for the Warriors, scoring twice and picking up an RBI.
Lavin was the losing pitcher for the Pioneers, while Nick Stiltner earned the victory. Senior Alex St. Pierre started for the Pioneers pitching four complete innings.
Game two saw the Warriors once again get on the board first, posting two runs in the third inning, before scoring back-to-back runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Down 4-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Pioneers found a way to get back in it, scoring four runs of their own. The inning began with a single to left center for Geoff Wertz, followed by a single through the right side by Ball. With runners on first and second, Tucker Laurence hit a single of his own to load the bases for Smith. Feeling the pressure, Corban decided to change pitchers prior to Smith's at bat, bringing in Trevor Winsor.
With the bases juiced and nobody out, Smith hit his first career grand slam over the fence in right field, tying the contest at 4-4.
Tied 4-4 at the end of seven innings, the two sides went to extra innings, with Corban earning the win with a single run in the bottom of the eighth.
Smith had another solid performance from the plate for the Pioneers, finishing 2-for-4 his first career grand slam picking up four RBI. Laurence finished 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Ball was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Ball picked up the loss for the Pioneers, while Winsor earned the win.
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, March 23 at 12 p.m. when they host Concorida (Ore.).
