SALEM, Ore. (Feb. 16) – The Central Washington University baseball team was swept by Corban University in a pair of games by scores of 5-1 and 2-1.
The Wildcats are now 3-5 on the season, while the Warriors improve to 8-6.
Griffin Davis (1-2) got the call in the series opener. The right-hander struck out four hitters over 4.1 innings and allowed five hits, four runs, and three walks. Only two runs were earned. Kris Jackson (3-1) went the distance for Corban, allowing seven hits with five strikeouts. He allowed just one run.
James Smith III went 2-for-4 in the series opener, collecting an RBI and two hits.
Yi-Fan Pan also recorded two hits, while
Ty Deckwa,
Dustin Braun, and
Jaden Hassell each added a hit as well.
Deckwa scored the Wildcats' lone run in the first inning on Smith's double, but that was the only run production for Central in game one.
The Warriors scored in the third on an RBI groundout, tying the game at 1-1. They scored again in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, taking a 2-1 lead. A throwing error later in the inning allowed another run to score, giving Corban a 3-1 advantage. The Warriors tacked on two more runs for a 5-1 win.
Connor Stevenson (1-1) started game two and hurled a quality start. Stevenson went seven innings, allowed seven hits, one walk, and two unearned runs. He also struck out six. Connor Mattison (1-2) earned the win for Corban. He tossed six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the third inning with a two-run double. Both offenses went silent until the top of the eighth.
Yi-an Pan wore a pitch with one out, before Deckwa walked.
Mitch Lesmeister followed Deckwa with a single, loading the bases for Braun. The Warriors dipped into their bullpen for the second time in the contest, this time retrieving Jonathan Russomano. Russomano then walked Braun, the first hitter he saw, allowing Yi-an to score. The Warriors stymied the Wildcat offense, keeping a one-run lead intact.
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow (Feb. 17) for another doubleheader against Corban. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
