ROCKLIN, Calif. – William Jessup University (6-8) faced their first conference opponent of the 2016 season Saturday when they played host to the Royals of Hope International University (9-10). Jessup nearly missed a victory in game two, and was consequently swept by Hope 7-2, 6-5.
Game 1
The Royals of Hope University struck early, sending their runner on second base home off a base hit through the middle of the infield in the top of the first inning. The Warriors sought to strike back in the bottom of the 2nd when Ali Medina cut a beautiful ball all the way to the fence and made it to third, but she would remain stranded at the end of the inning.
The Royals scored a second run in the top of the third but broke the game open in the top of the fourth. With bases loaded and no outs a double to right center field sent three runs in. The Royals would grab two more runs before the end of the half inning extending their lead to 7-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors again put runners in scoring position, loading the bases; but again, all runners were left stranded and the Warriors remained scoreless. Jessup would find their rhythm at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jessup quickly loaded the bases with just one out.
Riley Williams (Orangevale, CA) then dropped a base hit over the head of the second baseman moving Rebekah Rogers (Danville, CA) home. Shortstop Clarrisa Blaquera (Union City, CA) stepped up to bat next. Blaquera smacked the ball into shallow right field to bring home Mikayla Laymance (Grass Valley, CA). Unfortunately, the run was too little too late and the Warriors would fall 7-2.
Campoy earned the win for the Royals pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, no runs and recording four strikeouts. Myers was credited the loss in the game pitching three innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits. Williams led the Warriors offensively with two hits and an RBI.
Game 2
The Warriors kept the momentum they found at the end of game one into the second game of the day. They proceeded to grab two runs in the bottom of the first with Ali Medina (Galt, CA) grabbing the base hit that would drive teammates Williams and Blaquera both across home plate.
Breanna Miskimen (Torrance, CA) would be the next Warrior to reach the home plate in the bottom of the second when Blaquera nailed a base hit into left field. Despite the solid lead, it would be the Royals of Hope University who would steal the momentum for the middle innings.
The Royals posted to the scoreboard one run each in the third and fourth innings. It would be in the fifth that they would take over the leading score from the Warriors after recording another two runs.
Jessup; however, was up to the challenge that Hope had laid down. The bottom of the fifth started with Blaquera singling to center field before Kayla Cisneros (Visalia, CA) drove a ball down the left field line for a base hit. Amanda Taylor (Rio Oso, CA) earned a sacrifice fly for hitting a long ball to right field and allowing Blaquera to score. Kristina Ortiz stepped to the plate and singled to second base sending Cisneros home and reclaiming a Warrior lead.
The game looked to be over in the top of the seventh as Shelbi Graifman (Antioch, CA) recorded two emphatic strikeouts on the first two Hope batters she faced that inning. After a walk, disaster struck the Warriors. Shortstop Kayla Cisneros mishandled a routine ground ball extending the game. The Warriors had thus far in the day played very clean defense, but the uncharacteristic error fueled Hope.
A subsequent base hit allowed Hope to score the tying run but a throwing error on the play allowed the go ahead run to cross home plate. The Warriors put a runner on third in the bottom of seventh but couldn't manage to bring her all the way home and Jessup fell in seven innings by a score of 6-5.
Guillen earned the win for Hope pitching seven innings and allowing five runs off 11 hits. Graifman was marked with a loss, also pitching seven innings allowing six runs, four of them earned, while recording five strikeouts. Blaquera went 3 for 4 at the plate scoring twice and driving a run home to lead Jessup offensively.
The Warriors remain at home to take on Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) foes San Diego Christian College at Azevedo Park on Friday, March 4th. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
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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).
