REDDING, Calif. – While it is just the first weekend of the 2017 campaign, the Corban University baseball team showed the type of character and fight that this year's squad has. On Saturday, the Warriors downed Simpson, 8-3, claiming the 2-1 series win, and then the Warriors completed a thrilling come-from-behind 8-6 victory against Menlo College to finish the weekend and road trip with a bang.

In Saturday's series-clinching win against Simpson, Kris Jackson provided a standout performance on the mound in his first win of the year, while in the victory over Menlo, it took a total-team effort to come back from a six-run first-inning deficit, ultimately claiming the dramatic victory late.

"Kris Jackson had a sparkling Warrior debut on the mound in game one," said Corban head coach Jeff McKay. "We had some good clutch hitting from the middle of the order and a better job of situational hitting than yesterday. Freshman Josh Ebert had hit first collegiate hit."

In that win against Simpson, Jackson tossed six innings of three-hit ball while striking out four Red Hawk batters and allowing no runs.

At the plate, Jackson Smith led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including one RBI and one run scored. In addition, Corban registered its first home run of the 2017 campaign when Drew Loera launched one over the left-field fence midway through the contest.

Also with a good performance at the dish was Ryan Rosas with a pair of hits and two RBI, while Benjamin Liogon registered a key bases-loaded three-RBI double to give the Warriors the early advantage. Moreover, Cody Schmidt tallied two hits for Corban in the win.

The afternoon contest against Menlo (0-1) saw Corban get off to a bit of a rough start, as before the Warriors were able to even record an out, a grand slam and solo home run were both already hit for the Oaks, and by the end of the first frame, Menlo led, 6-0.

Unfazed, Corban scored three runs in the second inning and then two more in the third, gaining the momentum.

In the fourth frame, Warrior sophomore righty Jonathan Russomano entered the contest, and he registered his best outing of his Warrior career, throwing six strong innings of no-hit ball while also allowing no runs and striking out six.

Russomano's lights-out performance proved to be crucial, as it allowed the Warriors to continue the comeback. In the seventh inning, Liogon blasted the game-tying home run over the left-field wall, and then in the eighth inning, Smith provided the early-season heroics with a clutch two-out two-RBI single to right-center, scoring Josh Ebert and Daniel Freiburger, putting Corban up 8-6.

In the ninth, Russomano showed that the previous five innings were no fluke, striking out the side in 1-2-3 fashion, securing the dramatic come-from-behind win for Corban.

"What a comeback early-season signature win for the Warriors," said McKay. "This team showed its character and cohesion in this game. It was a simply spectacular performance by sophomore Jonathan Russomano in relief, and senior captain Jackson Smith came up big with his go-ahead two-run single."

After the first inning in which Corban allowed the six runs on three hits, the Warrior pitching staff did not allow another hit for the remainder of the contest, and after Russomano entered the game, only one Oak batter reached base via a walk.

At the plate, Smith, Loera, Ebert, and Rosas all recorded two hits apiece, and Rosas finished with a team-best three RBI.

"Menlo is a very good team, especially offensively," said McKay. "The Warriors' defense was outstanding today and a key to the win. This team has all the parts to do something special."

Corban (3-1) returns to Oregon next week for a doubleheader against NCAA Division II squad, Western Oregon University, on Saturday, February 4. First pitch of the doubleheader in Monmouth is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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