ATHERTON, Calif. – In the final road series of the squad's grueling non-conference regiment, the Corban University baseball team finished its four-game set with Menlo College with plenty to be optimistic about. Though the Oaks claimed the series finale by a 2-0 score, the Warrior offense stole the show in the squad's 9-6 victory in game one on Saturday, as the two teams split the series.

"We took steps forward this weekend," said head coach Derek Legg. "We are going to continue to work hard and trust the process. We're happy to be coming home next weekend to play."

The offense exploded for a new season high with nine runs in the opener, propelled by a five-run third.

Kairos Torres-Umi continued his hot start with an RBI single in the second, helping the Navy and Gold draw first blood in the day's opening contest.

In the following frame, Maxwell Jeffrey doubled the lead with a run-scoring two-bagger; then, after Jared Bell reached via hit by pitch, two men were on ahead of the red-hot Estenio Sede. Sede didn't let the scoring opportunity go to waste, blowing the game open with a three-run shot to left, his third of the season.

Justin Tow—who hit his first career homer yesterday—then went back-to-back with Sede, crushing a solo shot to dead center to cap off the five-run frame.

Continuing the trend, Nate Cantonwine blasted his first roundtripper of 2020 in the sixth, doubling in another run in the following inning.

The Warriors' offensive output would be more than enough for Hector Sepulveda, who dazzled in six brilliant innings on the hill. The electric righty held the Oaks to just three hits, striking out seven without giving up a run en route to his first win in a Warrior uniform.

In contrast to the high-scoring affair that preceded it, the series finale featured a pitchers' duel between Menlo's Brice Foster and Corban's Zach Filos.

Making his return from injury, it was the first start of 2020 for Filos—a key part of the Warrior rotation in 2019. The Oaks put runs up against him in both the first and the second, though only one of those was earned. Christopher Lopez brought home the game's first run with an RBI single in the first, while Jairahme Morales singled home the Oaks' second and final run.

Also making his season debut, Zack Simon took over the game in the third, holding Menlo to just one hit in four scoreless innings of work in relief.

As good as Corban's staff was, Foster proved to be even better, scattering knocks in the seven-inning complete-game shutout.

Jeffrey and Sede each finished the finale 2-for-3, combining to account for all of the Navy and Gold's hits.

Corban (2-10) will now return home for its home-opening series next weekend, hosting NCAA Division II foe Central Washington University for a three-game set at Volcanoes Stadium. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.