SACRAMENTO, Calif. - It was questionable whether this weekend's games would be played at all with the welcome rain but the teams found a way to complete the three-game series, with Westmont topping the William Jessup Warriors in each contest.
GAME 1
There would be no pattern to the three-game series as they fluctuated between high offensive and high defensive games. The series opened up; however, with an offensive dual which Westmont would eventually claim by a score of 13-5.
William Jessup had one of the strongest innings of the season in the series' first, and for a while it appeared as though the Warriors had found the secret to bringing down their top 10 opponent. Still, Westmont posted to the scoreboard first in the evening on a throwing error to take a 1-0 lead.
Ben Knudsen (Rancho Cordova, CA) claimed Jessup's first RBI of the day with a one-out single directed toward the opposing shortstop, allowing teammate Steven Stockton (Stockton, CA) to score from third base. Nathan Torres (Monterey Park, CA) kept the momentum with a single to left field followed by another base hit from Kyle Robinson (Modesto, CA) into right, bringing home Knudsen.
With bases loaded Zach Clement (San Diego, CA) was hit by an errant throw bringing home Torres. Freshman Zach Sween topped off the Jessup inning with a single through the middle infield allowing Coleman Petit (Palo Cedro, CA) and Robinson to finish their trek around the bases and giving Jessup a 5-1 advantage.
After holding the 5-1 lead through the second inning, Westmont had a significant inning of their own scoring four in the top of the third to tie the game. After that, Westmont would slowly continue growing their lead scoring in five of the six remaining innings for a 13-5 victory.
Sam Anderson (Roseville, CA) received the loss for Jessup finishing 5.2 innings allowing six earned runs on 10 hits. Daniel Butler earned the win for Westmont pitching six innings allowing five runs on seven hits.
GAME 2
The teams arranged to play two games on the relatively dry Friday afternoon and the day's second game was considerably different than the first with Westmont claiming a 3-0 victory in a defensive match.
Jessup put two runners on base in the bottom of the first as they looked to create another hot start to game two but the runners would remain stranded. The Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the second as they again looked to take control of the game but the Westmont defense rose to the challenge and once more, the inning ended scoreless.
Westmont would crack open a door for themselves with a run in the third before picking up two safety runs in the sixth to seal their 3-0 victory. Westmont's David Gaydos picked up the win on the mound pitching five innings allowing no runs on four hits. Phillip Chavez (Vacaville, CA) was credited the loss for Jessup, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five.
GAME 3
Game three had to be canceled due to uncooperative weather on Saturday but Westmont elected to stay in town an extra night to hold the make-up game Sunday afternoon. Game three shifted back to an offensive slugfest in which Westmont would ultimately claim an 11-5 win.
Westmont scored one in the first and three in the second to jump to an early lead but Jessup was not unsettled. The Warriors grabbed their own run in the bottom of the third when Joshua Duitsman scored on a Stockton RBI. Jessup picked up another pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth when Dayton Kurian (Las Vegas, NV) crossed home plate on a Sween double to the left field fence and Sween scored on another Stockton RBI.
Westmont kept their side of the scoreboard moving posting one run in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. They would pick up another three safety runs in the eighth. William Jessup made one final run at Westmont in the bottom of the ninth when Sween scored on Cesar Valenzuela (Somerton, AZ) nailed his own double deep into the left field corner and Drew Valdez (Duarte, CA) scored on a passed ball.
Cameron Morrow started on the pitching mound for Jessup completing 5.1 innings allowing two earned runs on nine hits and striking out two. Zach Demarcus pitched the win for Westmont allowing two earned runs on four hits in five innings while striking out three.
William Jessup University stays on the road this week traveling to CSU Stanislaus on April 12 for a 6 p.m. game under the lights. Over the weekend, the Warriors travel to No. 13 Vanguard University for a three-game series in Costa Mesa, California.
***
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).
