COSTA MESA, Calif. – After defeating Biola twice on Thursday, William Jessup University's softball team drove across town to face No. 18 Vanguard University on Friday. Jessup held close in both games but just couldn't find quite enough offensive production to grab a win, eventually falling 4-1 and 5-3.
GAME 1
Jessup started the day as the first team to post to the scoreboard. In the top of the first inning, Kyla Cisneros (Visalia, CA) drilled a base hit to left field giving Riley Williams (Orangevale, CA) time to round third and make it through the home stretch for a run. The Lions of Vanguard answered immediately, scoring one run in the bottom of the first after opening the game with a triple and using a sacrifice bunt to score.
The Warrior bats would remain stifled for the remainder of the game, recording only one additional hit in the remaining six innings. Jessup's defense however, answered the call, allowing no additional Vanguard runs with the exception of the fourth inning, when a few lapses resulted in three Vanguard runs. Those runs, however, were enough to give Vanguard the win.
Shelbi Graifman (Antioch, CA) was the starting pitcher for Jessup and remained on the mound through the end pitching six innings, allowing three earned runs off seven hits and striking out four. The win went to Vanguard's Alexandra Olvera who pitched seven innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out two.
GAME 2
Jessup's dry spell at the plate continued into Friday's second matchup. Jessup would put only one runner on base in the first give inning against the Lion's defense. Once again, Jessup only allowed Vanguard any run production in two innings. The Lions put two runners across home plate in the third and another three runs in the fourth.
Jessup faced a monumental challenge down 5-0, but they would not leave Costa Mesa quietly as they would mount a comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Amanda Taylor (Rio Oso, CA) and Kristina Ortiz (Clovis, CA) reached on a walk and base hit respectively. Slater knocked the ball down the right field line, a hit good enough for two bases and an RBI. Cisneros, who has had a knack to for grabbing hits at the right time this March, nailed a double of her own into center field, sending two more Jessup runs across home plate.
The Jessup inning, while impressive, fell just short of bringing Jessup back into the win column. Jessica Myers (Modesto, CA) took the mound for Jessup, pitching all six innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out four. Taylor Doyle stood on the mound for Vanguard, pitching seven innings allowing three earned runs on five hits while recording two strikeouts.
Jessup will be playing at on the road again next week at Menlo College on Tuesday, March 22. The Warriors will then play a makeup home game against San Diego Christian College on Thursday March 24 at Azevedo Park in Rocklin. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to being 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).
