ROCKLIN, Calif. – For the first time in the history of the two schools' athletic programs, the Warriors took on University of Antelope Valley in a non-conference doubleheader. The Pioneers would win game one 9-7 and the Warriors won game two in come-from-behind fashion 11-10.

Game 1

The pitching matchup was between the Warriors' Shelby Graifman and the Pioneers' Tabitha Bayers. The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning on a Chauncy McMillan three run home run to left field. The Warriors would respond in the bottom half of the first with three runs of their own – two coming on a Clarissa Blaquera double to left center that scored Kyla Cisneros and Delany Slater and one via a throwing error by the Pioneers that scored Blaquera.

The Pioneers would add a run in the top of the third inning on a Ruby Barroso home run to left field. The Warriors would score a run in a bottom of the fourth inning on a Cisneros double to left center that scored Ali Medina. The two teams were tied at the end of the fourth inning 4-4.

In the fifth inning, Barroso would score on a passed ball to give the Pioneers a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors would respond as Blaquera stole home after a dropped third strike escaped out of the catcher's mit.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Pioneers would score on solo home runs by Lorena Acosta and Chelsea Phillips. In the top of the seventh inning, the Pioneers would add two more insurance runs on a Sabrina Mansfield double to left field that scored McMillan and Ashley Oakley.

The Warriors responded with two runs of their own in the home half of the seventh inning – one on a Graifman home run to right field and one on a Mikayla Laymance sacrifice fly to center field that scored Blaquera. The end of game offensive production still left the Warriors just shy in a 9-7 game one loss.

Bayers got the win for the Pioneers and Graifman got the loss for William Jessup. For the Warriors, Blaquera went 1-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Riley Williams went 2-3 with one RBI.

Game 2

The pitching matchup was between William Jessup's Jessica Myers and the University of Antelope Valley's Kiyanna Watley. As with the first game, the Pioneers would strike first. The Pioneers scored five runs; two on a fielding error by the Warriors that brought home Elsie Ramirez and Erika Romero, one on a Katie Harris single that scored McMillan, and two on a Watley single that scored Angellina Gonzales and Harris.

The Warriors answered with three runs; one on a passed ball that scored Slater and two runs on a Blaquera double that scored Graifman and Cisneros.

In the third inning, the Pioneers added two runs on a Ramirez double that scored Romero and Mansfield. The Warriors again responded with three runs of their own; two on a Williams double that scored Graifman and Cisneros and one on an Amanda Taylor single that brought Blaquera home.

In the fourth inning, the Warriors would tie the game at 7-7 on a Blaquera sacrifice fly to center field that scored Slater. The Pioneers and Warriors traded runs in the fifth inning; the Pioneers run was scored by Watley on a Warrior throwing error, and the Warriors' run would be scored on an Ali Media infield single that brought in Kaylee Surrell. In the sixth inning, the Warriors scored two runs; one on a Williams' grounder to the shortstop sending Graifman safely home and one on a Pioneers' fielding error that scored Blaquera.

In the top half of the seventh inning, the Pioneers would tied the game at 10-10 on a fielding error by the Warriors that scored Ramirez and Romero. In the bottom of the seventh, after a fielding error by the Pioneers allowed Medina to reach first, Slater drove a ball to left center that scored Medina and won the game 11-10.

Myers recieved the win for the Warriors and Watley  the loss for the Pioneers. Blaquera went 3-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Williams also had three RBIs as she went 2-4. For the Pioneers, Ramirez went 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

The Warriors will now be on the road for their next six games. Their next doubleheader is Saturday in Phoenix against Arizona Christian University.  

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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).