BOX SCORE
PASCO, Wash. - The Lewis & Clark baseball team nearly picked up its first win of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Pioneers took on Corban, falling 12-11, in the final game of the Swing into Spring Baseball Classic.
Senior Michael Ball led the way for the Pioneers, ending the day 2-for-3 from the plate, scoring twice and knocking in four runs. Nick Lavin was also 2-for-3 from the plate, brining in two runs and coming around to score once.
The Pioneers, who played as the visiting team, led off the game with four runs in the top of the first. Things did not start right for the Warrior pitching staff, who hit the Pioneers leadoff batter Eric Hyun. Geoff Wertz followed that up with a fielder's choice, which saw Corban unable to get Hyun out at second. The two runners advanced moments later on a wild pitch before coming in to score on a Ball single to center. Freshman Mike Kinkenon brought in the next Pio runner with a fielder's choice. An error by the Warrior catcher allowed Corey Davis to come in to score after reaching base on a single right.
It did not take Corban long to respond with the Warriors scoring seven runs in the bottom half of the first. Down 7-4, the Pioneers tied the contest in the top of the second inning with Jake Costantino, Hyun and Wertz all coming around to score.
A single to left by Lavin in the fourth inning brought Ball around to score, earning the Pioneers an 8-7 advantage. Lewis & Clark held the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Warriors tied the game on an unearned run by Gregg Romero.
Corban took the lead once again in the seventh with a two RBI single through the right side by Chris Gokey, brining in Daxton Deal and Andy Hill.
A sacrifice fly by Wertz in the eighth inning allowed Costantino to score, pulling the Pioneers within a run of the Warriors. Ball picked up another of his four RBI's moments after the Costantino score, flying out to center field to bring Hyun in to score once again.
The Warriors plated a run of their own in the eighth, with Steven Blum brining in Marc Gallegos with a triple to center. Down a run, the Pioneers tied the game at 11-11 in the top of the ninth with a Kinkenon double to right, plating Lavin.
With the game on the line, the bottom of the ninth did not begin the way the Pioneers would have hoped, with the first batter of the inning reaching base on an error and advancing to second on another. The Pios managed to get the next batter out, before intentionally walking two batters to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Gallegos singled through the left side to knock in the game winning run.
Ball started the day on the mound for Lewis & Clark, pitching 6.2 innings before being replaced by Kyle Tibbett, who picked up the loss.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. when the team faces off against the Warriors in a double-header in Salem.
