STAYTON, Ore. – After a tough-luck loss in yesterday's matchup, the Corban University baseball team bounced back to register the team's first and second wins of the 2019 season on Sunday afternoon, earning a big series win against Menlo College. With a 4-2 victory in game one and a 5-1 margin in game two, pitching proved to be key in the two triumphs.

"I'm proud of the boys," said head coach Derek Legg. "They competed through some tough situations today. Hopefully that mental toughness will continue to grow throughout the year. I would like to also thank all of the friends and family that supported us at our 'Leadoff Dinner' on Friday and in the stands this weekend. Go Warriors!"

CLICK HERE to watch Legg's thoughts after the game-one victory.

It took just two batters for the Warriors to get on the board in game one, as leadoff man Daniel Freiburger laced a triple into the right field corner to kick-start the Corban offense. His fellow middle infielder, Tanner Marsh, promptly brought him home by lacing a single up the middle. 

Five-straight hits in the third inning—highlighted by a two-RBI single from Brendan Yawn and an RBI double from Justin Tow—helped the Navy and Gold tack on three more runs against Menlo's starter, Brice Foster. Marsh (2-for-4), Yawn (2-for-4), and Tow (2-for-4) each finished the day with a pair of hits.

The Oaks would scratch across a couple of runs in the fourth and seventh frames to narrow the deficit, but the Warrior bullpen would hold firm to secure the win. Freshman Zackary Simon was impressive in his first collegiate start on the mound, allowing one unearned run on five hits in four innings of work. Jacob Asa—who took over for Simon—was credited with the win, tossing an inning of scoreless ball in the fifth.  

Game two featured another strong performance on the mound, as Zachary Filos turned in a complete-game (seven innings, one unearned run) performance in the rubber match of the series.

To hear Filos' thoughts after his outing in game two, CLICK HERE.

Offense was hard to come by in the first half of the contest, as both teams were held scoreless through four. The Warriors were able to manufacture a trio of runs in the fifth to pull ahead, however, demonstrating the danger of Legg's offensive style. Jared Bell started the rally, reaching via a two-strike hit-by-pitch; he then proceeded to steal both second and, becoming the first Warrior baserunner of the contest to stand 90 feet from home.

Brendan Rodegerdts in-turn delivered a gritty at-bat to drive him in, fouling off a number of pitches and eventually serving a clutch two-strike single up the middle to provide the game's first run. A few batters later, Nate Cantonwine doubled the lead with a sacrifice fly to left, and Warrior cleanup man Ben Ross pushed the lead to three with his RBI single to left.

After tacking on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, Filos had all the support he needed to finish out the 5-1 victory.

All but one member of Corban's starting lineup registered a base hit in the win, with the team's blend of timely hitting and strong pitching insuring the squad's first series win of the young season.

The Warriors (2-7) will conclude their non-conference schedule next weekend against Central Washington University, with the NCAA Division II foe coming to Salem for a four-game set on Saturday and Sunday.