La Mirada, Calif. – The William Jessup University Warrior softball team recorded their first conference series sweep on Thursday, with the pair of wins coming from a road trip to La Mirada where they defeated Biola 6-0 and 4-3.
GAME 1
The Warriors owned game one from the outset, keeping up consistent offensive pressure through the first third of the game. Despite giving up two outs in their first two at-bats, Clarissa Blaquera (Union City, CA) kept the Warriors at the plate with single, plus an extra base off a Biola fielding error. Kyla Cisneros (Visalia, CA) then drilled a beautiful shot into the right field corner, good enough for a triple RBI. Ali Medina (Galt, CA) topped off the inning with a double to deep center field, recording an RBI of her own.
The Warriors did not let go of their momentum in the second inning, with Breanna Miskimen (Torrance, CA) leading off with a single. With runners on first and second, Delany Slater (Folsom, CA) grounded to third but an error gave her the room she needed to round the bases, extending the Warrior lead to 5-0.
Finally, in the third inning, Jessup grabbed a safety run when Medina led off the inning with a double, followed by a single plus RBI from Miskimen. Although Biola would leave a number of runners stranded throughout the day, Jessup's run in the third was the last time a runner crossed home plate.
Shelbi Graifman (Antioch, CA) was on the mound for the Warriors for seven innings, grabbing the win. Graifman held the Eagles scoreless on the game allowing four hits while recording a phenomenal nine strikeouts. The loss went to Biola's starting pitcher Selina Sherlin who allowed six runs, three earned, on eight hits and recorded two strikeouts.
GAME 2
The Warriors looked to follow the same game plan moving into the 2nd game of Thursday's doubleheader, scoring early and often. After making it to third base in the first inning, senior Riley Williams (Orangevale, CA) was given the window she needed to make it to home plate on a Biola wild pitch.
Jessup would increase their lead to 2-0 in the second inning. After grabbing a base hit Mikayla Laymance, (Grass Valley, CA) advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring when Slater reached on a first base fielder error. Biola finally cracked the Jessup defensive code; however, scoring their first two runs of the day in the bottom of the second inning.
Laymance would score again to put Jessup back on top with a solo home run in the fourth, but again, the Eagles answered in the fifth, bringing the game back to even at 3-3. The game would remain 3-3 through the regularly scheduled seven innings, sending the game to extras.
The Warriors started the eighth with Williams on second base. Blaquera quickly took the guess work out of the game nailing a double into right field and sending Williams back across home plate. Two strikeouts and a fly out in the bottom of the eighth by Jessup's defense guaranteed the 4-3 victory and series sweep.
Jessica Myers (Modesto, CA) earned the win for the Warriors pitching 4.2 innings allowing one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts. Biola's Kimmy Triolo was credited the loss pitching the final three innings and allowing one off one hit while striking out five.
Softball remains on the road Friday, facing off with No. 18 Vanguard University in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Jessup returns home on March 22 when they will play host to Menlo College with the first pitch also scheduled for 2 p.m. for the day's doubleheader.
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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).
