April 2, 2024

Lewis & Clark Scores Most Runs Since 2006 In Win over Corban

Batting

Corban
2B: N. Kaahanui
3B: none
HR: none
Lewis and Clark
2B: Brandon Gonzaga 2; Tommy Valero; Will Heron 2; Joaquin Sandoval; Evyn Lewis; Jack Savant
3B: none
HR: Joaquin Sandoval; Jakob Ghammachi 2; Eli Steinhaus
full stats

PORTLAND, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College baseball set single-season highs in almost every offensive category, as the Pioneers posted their most runs scored (26) and largest winning margin (23) since 2006, in a non-conference win over Corban University on Tuesday afternoon at Jerry Gatto Field. 

THE BASICS

Lewis & Clark 26, Corban 3

(Lewis & Clark 12-11-1) 
(Corban 6-24) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Pioneers scored multiple runs in six of the first seven innings en-route to single-season highs in runs (26), hits (18), RBI (26), doubles (eight), home runs (four), walks (12) and sacrifice flies (three). Ten players recorded hits, five players scored and 12 players drove in runs as the Pioneers moved back above .500. 

Senior Jakob Ghammachi went 3-4 with three runs scored, a team-high five RBI and hit two home runs in the first four innings. Junior Will Heron added two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. 

Sophomore Brandon Gonzaga went 2-2 with a double, two runs scored and a walk. Senior Jack Savant finished 2-2 with two runs scored, two RBI, a walk and a double. 

The Pioneers also had two players off the bench finish with multiple hits. Freshman Tommy Valero went a career-best 3-4 with a run scored, two RBI and a double. Sophomore Joaquin Sandoval posted a double, a homer, two runs scored and two RBI while filling in at first base. 

Freshman Eli Steinhaus added his first collegiate hit (a grand slam) and finished with two runs scored and four RBI. 

Lewis & Clark used nine pitchers during the contest as both teams used the contest as a Bullpen Day. Senior ace Brett Pierson earned the win after allowing one hit in a scoreless first inning. Tyler Shimabukuro, Felix Gibeault, Shane Buchbinder, Anthony Clerici and Brennen Davis all added scoreless innings. 

The Pioneers scored eight of their 26 runs in the first inning to match their most runs scored in a single inning this season. With the bases loaded and no outs, Luke Bass worked a walk, Heron ripped a two-run double to right and Ghammachi added a single to left to make it 4-0. Freshman catcher Evyn Lewis, who was making his first collegiate start, made it 5-0 with an RBI double to left and Savant followed with a two-run double. Freshman Gavin Mangano capped off the scoring with a sac fly. 

Lewis & Clark made it 10-2 in the second on a Ghammachi two-run homer and added two more runs in the third on a Mangano RBI groundout and another Heron RBI double. 

The hosts added seven more runs in the fourth, five in the sixth and capped off the scoring with two in the seventh. Valero (two-run double) and Ghammachi (two-run homer) provided the two big hits in the fourth, while Steinhaus (grand slam) and Sandoval (two-run homer) provided the majority of the scoring in the later innings. 

BY THE NUMBERS

  • Lewis & Clark's 26 runs are the third-most in program history. The Pioneers scored 42 runs against California Maritime (42-0) in 1994, 28 runs against Whitman College (28-1) in 1989 and 26 runs against Atlanta Christian (26-5) in 2006. The 23-run margin is the third-biggest in program history and also the largest since the team's only-ever matchup against Atlanta Christian. 
  • Steinhaus recorded his first collegiate hit and freshmen Dylan Lee, Toby Strawser, Lewis and Steinhaus all posted their first collegiate RBI in the contest. Freshman Caden Hodina earned his first collegiate appearance on the basepaths as a pinch runner. 
  • Davis started at DH and went 1-3 with three walk, three runs scored and an RBI. 
  • Lewis & Clark used 26 players during the contests including nine pitchers and 18 position players (Davis pitched and hit). Corban used 23 players throughout the game so the two teams finished with 49 players seeing action. 
  • Ghammachi recorded the second multi-homer game of his career on Tuesday. He also hit two home runs against Willamette University on April 8, 2023. 
  • Bass reached 100 career RBI on Saturday in game two against George Fox (game two). His 101 RBI, after Tuesday's game, are tied for eighth in program history. 

WHO'S NEXT 

Lewis & Clark will host Pacific Lutheran University this weekend in a pivotal three-game Northwest Conference series. Game one is scheduled for Noon on Saturday.