CALDWELL, Idaho – Both of Friday's matchups between the Corban University baseball team and College of Idaho were hard-fought battles, as the two squads played to a day-one split at Wolfe Field. A go-ahead, seventh-inning single from Matthew Clay lifted the Yotes to a 4-3 triumph in game one, while the Warriors bounced back in the latter contest with a 5-2 victory.

"They were a couple of close ballgames today," said head coach Derek Legg. "I thought the guys competed well in the second half of game two, and hopefully we can ride some of that momentum into game three tomorrow."

The Warriors were unable to hold an early 2-0 lead in the series opener, jumping out to a two-run advantage via an opposite-field RBI single from Justin Tow in the second inning. A defensive miscue from Yote third baseman Ben Hansen allowed another run to cross on the play.

The hometown squad erased the deficit and took the lead in the bottom of the third, making the most of a pair of Corban errors. Tow struck again in the following frame, however, pulling the Warriors even with his second run-scoring single of the day.

The score would remain at three apiece until the seventh, when Clay broke the deadlock with his timely two-out knock. Walks proved costly in the stanza, as the Warriors surrendered three free passes, and Clay was the only baserunner to reach via a base hit in the half inning.

College of Idaho starter Connor Root settled in nicely after the early damage, tossing seven runs and surrendering just two earned runs en route to his fourth win of the season. Silas Shumate took the ball in the eighth, preserving the lead in the closer's role.

The Warriors put together a more complete team effort in Friday's second duel, with Nate Martin taking the ball and turning in his second-straight quality outing.

College of Idaho's Carter Vieira got to Martin with a solo shot in the second, giving the hometown team an early 1-0 lead. That would be the only blemish on the righty until the eighth, as he finished the day with an impressive stat line (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER) en route to his third win of the campaign.

Offensively, the Navy and Gold waited until the sixth inning to erase the early deficit, tying the game at one on an RBI single to right from Kyle Clay.

Zack Simon then added a pinch-hit, run-scoring base hit of his own in the following frame, giving Corban the lead. That lead was then expanded with another in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Morgan Hostetler.

On the heels of the Yotes getting one back in the bottom of the eighth, the Navy and Gold used some crafty baserunning to manufacture a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. After Dakota Fingar scored on a double steal, Aidan Bunn immediately crossed on a wild pitch, extending the squad's advantage to 5-2.

Jacob Asa was exceptional in relief, maintaining the lead and earning a five-out save to seal the triumph.

Corban (10-20, 9-9 CCC) will take on the Yotes again tomorrow, with first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 11 a.m. MT.