CALDWELL, Idaho – In the opening two games of a series that could determine the Corban University baseball team's postseason future, the Warriors walked away with a pair of crucial road victories against the College of Idaho Yotes on Friday. The Warrior staff was brilliant throughout the day, allowing just two total runs across the 4-1 and 2-1 triumphs.

"The boys played well today," said head coach Derek Legg. "They found a way to compete in all areas of the game, and it showed. We're looking forward to getting out there again tomorrow."

Jonathan Russomano continued his strong senior campaign with the win in game one, throwing seven innings, allowing just the one run, and surrendering merely four hits. Jacob Asa came in and shut the door, working a pair of scoreless frames to earn his third save of the year.

College of Idaho drew first blood in the contest. Three-hitter Matthew Clay laced a two-out double in the first, and cleanup-man Austin Van Horne subsequently singled him to give the Yotes an early 1-0 advantage.

Small ball helped Corban issue a two-run response in the third. Nate Cantonwine led off the inning with a single and was later pinch-ran for by David Yoppini, Jared Bell bunted Yoppini over to second, Josh Ebert drove him in with a single, and Maxwell Jeffrey later executed a squeeze play to bring in Ebert.

It would remain a one-run ballgame for the majority of the contest, until Bell delivered the decisive blow with a clutch two-RBI double in the ninth.

Tanner Marsh (2-for-4) and Daniel Freiburger (2-for-3) each collected a pair of base hits in the opener.

Neither team was able to plate a run through the first five innings of game two, as Warrior starter Zachary Filos lined up against the Yotes' Richard Walker in another strong pitching matchup.

Corban's trademark style of situational hitting once again played a factor in the contest; the Warriors' first run came courtesy of an RBI sac fly from Maxwell Jeffrey in the sixth. The lead would double in the eighth when Estedio Sede drove in Bell with an RBI single—a run that would become valuable insurance when all was said and done.

Jacob Bowser entered the ballgame in the ninth and would go on to earn his third save of the year, despite surrendering a run in the frame. Filos was credited with the win, throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out four to move to 5-6 on the season.

Bell (2-for-3) collected two of Corban's five hits in the victory, while also scoring both of the team's runs. The senior outfielder has now hit safely in nine of his past 10 games.

The two wins are particularly valuable as the postseason approaches, the Warriors (16-26-1, 14-15 NAIA West) and Yotes (16-29, 10-16 NAIA West) currently sit in third and fourth place in the NAIA-West regular-season standings. Whichever team finishes in third place will receive the conference's final berth to the California Pacific Tournament, which effectively serves as the conference tournament for the NAIA West grouping.

The two squads will pick up the series tomorrow, participating in an 11 a.m./2 p.m. (MST) doubleheader down in Caldwell.