WILSONVILLE, Ore. – A nine-run lead was not enough for Corban to put away a young and resilient Pacific squad Sunday as the Boxers scored 12 runs in a span of four innings to beat the Warriors 12-9 in baseball action at the NWC-Cascade Challenge at Wilsonville High School.
The Boxers (3-3) managed just eight hits in the contest, but were aided 10 walks given up by Corban pitchers and five hit batters. Two of those hit batters in the seventh proved to be the tying and go-ahead runs in the contest.
Jared Van Hoon (Jr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) led the Boxers at the plate with two hits, while Logan Moen (So., Brier, Wash.) and Anson Arakaki (So., Hilo, Hawaii) each had three runs batted in. Moen was hit by a pitch one out in the seventh, which accounted for the winning run.
Starting pitchers Dustin Christensen (Fr., Riverton, Utah) and Nick Stillner combined to give up just two hits over the first three and a half innings, and Christensen escaped a bases loaded jam in the first caused by two hit batters and a walk.
The Warriors (0-7) opened the floodgates in the fourth and appeared to score all of the runs they would need for the win. After two doubles opened the inning, Trevor Winsor drove three in with a long home run to left field.
A triple by Nate Hiebert knocked Christensen out of the game, but Corban quickly went to work on reliever Quin Moore (Fr., Bellingham, Wash.). A ground ball scored Hiebert and Joshua Walker knocked home two more when he doubled two batters later. Colby Sokol added two more with a home run to center field and Winsor added his fourth RBI of the frame with a single against Mike McGuire (Jr., Olympia, Wash.).
With a 9-0 hole to climb out of, the Boxers suddenly found luck on their side and the ball bouncing their way. Pacific used a fielder's choice to open scoring in the fifth. Kevin Schwartz (Jr., Milwaukie, Ore.) doubled to score Arakaki and Moen singled to bring home Schwartz. Pacific added three in the sixth on a single by Arakaki that plated Nick Tasaka (So., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii), the only hit of the inning, and a pair of bases loaded walks.
Conor Clark (Jr., Tigard, Ore.) opened the four-run seventh with a solo home run to center field. Two batters later, Van Hoon hit into what looked to be a double play ball, but a mishandle by the shortstop Winsor allowed Trux French (So., Kennewick, Wash.) to score and loaded the bases. Reliever Quinn Macnab proceeded to hit the next two batters, Arakaki and Moen, which allowed the Boxers to score the tying and game-winning runs.
The Boxers added two insurance runs in the eighth, with French and Grant Gabriel (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) scoring on an Arakaki sacrifice bunt.
After the rocky fourth, Pacific relievers did a solid job of keeping Corban off the bases. After the one run in the fourth, McGuire allowed just three more hits and a struck out two over the next two innings to earn his first win of the season. Rylan Tomita (So., Honolulu, Hawaii) allowed just one walk in two innings of relief before Dan Wolfe (Sr., Warrenton, Ore.) retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his second save.
Mike McKay was collared for the loss for Corban, allowing the four runs in seventh on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Jonathan Ramirez led the Warriors with three hits, while Steven Candelaria, Sokol, Kyle Taylor and Winsor had two hits apiece.
The two teams will meet once again on Tuesday, squaring off in the 2010 home opener for the Boxers at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.