ROCKLIN, Calif. – Jessup baseball took advantage of the recent warm weather to hold its home opener against the No. 22 Vanguard University Lions on Friday evening under the bright lights of the American River College baseball stadium. After a pitcher's dual for the remainder of the night, it was Vanguard who left victorious 3-1.
Senior Sam Anderson (Rocklin, CA) was on the top of his game Friday night. Through the first 6 innings Friday Anderson was absolutely lights out, not allowing a runner to cross the plate, while seeing just two players reach scoring position. Anderson's night would end after 7 innings of work, where he allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out nine while walking and hitting two.
Opposing him on the hill for Vanguard was Sean Isaac. If Anderson tossed the game of a year, Isaac dealt what could have been the outing of a lifetime. Isaac was unstoppable the first 7 innings of the night, allowing just one hit through that point. He would face some trouble in the eighth, but still walked away with the win and 15 strikeouts on 5 hits, allowing one run in 7.1 innings.
The seventh inning was where Anderson finally saw some danger, as his pitch count began to rise, Vanguard began to take advantage of the situation and get on the board. After allowing the first two batters to reach on a hit batsman and a walk, two runs would cross the plate on a double by leadoff man Brandon Sandoval.
Jessup would counter and finally get to Isaac in the bottom of the eighth, again thanks to a high pitch count and fatigue. After a runner reached on a walk, sophomore Nathan Torres (Monterey Park, CA) would double to right-center. On the play, Vanguard's centerfielder would commit a fielding error, allowing Jessup to score on the play and get on the board.
Vanguard was forced to go to the bullpen at that point, bringing in closer Michael Jordan for a long save situation. Jordan worked his way out of a jam that saw the tying runner on first with one out, and would then pitch a scoreless ninth to record the five-out save.
The Warrior bullpen too looked strong, as sophomore Cameron Morrow (Woodland, CA) pitched a solid eighth inning, before allowing a run in the ninth on a two out single. Jessup had to use just the one reliever, setting things up nicely for the remainder of the three-game series.
Offensively, Torres finished the night batting 2-for-3 with two doubles. Sandoval finished the game batting 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI's.
The series concludes tomorrow as the Warriors and Lions take part in a double-header. Jessup will be searching for their first win of the season, as they currently sit at 0-7. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. and games will be held at American River College.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
