LANCASTER, Calif. – Despite trailing the (RV) University of Antelope Valley (Calif.) 6-1 late in Saturday's game one, the Corban University baseball team continued it never-say-die attitude and stormed back to force extra innings, ultimately winning 12-7 in 10 frames. While the Warriors fell in a five-inning final game of the series, 2-1, Corban earned the series split against the Pioneers, a team that advanced to the 2017 NAIA National Tournament.

"The boys played really well today," said Corban head coach Derek Legg. "The first game we were down, but we didn't let the start determine the finish. I was pleased with how well we competed all weekend. That was my biggest challenge to the guys, and they answered the call."

Fast forward in game one to the sixth inning with the Warriors trailing, 6-1, Corban pulled one run back and then another in the seventh to set up a big eighth inning. In that eighth frame, the Warriors tacked on three runs to tie the contest at 6-6, forcing extra innings after a scoreless ninth.

In the 10^th frame, Jared Bell got things going with a triple, and then Josh Ebert brought him home with a single to right field to give the Warriors the lead. From that point on, the floodgates opened and everyone got in on the fun in the 10^th, with Corban scoring five more runs to make it 12-6. While UAV would pull one run back in the bottom half of the frame, Corban finished off the thrilling win to take the 2-1 series advantage.

In the triumph. Ebert went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Drew Loera went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored. In addition, Andrew Axmaker registered one key hit for two RBI and also scored two runs. Moreover, Brock Myklebust tallied two hits for the Warriors in the comeback win.

In relief, it was Jonathan Russomano earning the win, pitching three strong innings while giving up just one unearned run.

Game two was shortened to just five innings because of the long game one and travel plans for Corban, and UAV (4-3) eventually ended up winning on a walk-off hit in the fifth to take the game, 2-1.

"It was disappointing to come home with a split," said Legg, "but hopefully that disappointment leads to a continual effort to get better every day."

In the five-inning defeat, both teams managed just four hits in a pitching-dominated contest.

Corban (4-4) returns to the diamond in California next weekend when it travels to Redding on Saturday and Sunday for a four-game series with Simpson University.