TURLOCK, Calif. – The William Jessup University baseball team has been performing admirably on the offensive side of the field but struggled to keep NCAA DII Stanislaus State from reaching home plate in a 15-6 defeat on Tuesday.
Stanislaus State put up a single run in both the second and third innings before Jessup brought the game back within one in the top of the fifth. Kyle Robinson (Modesto, CA) got things started with a single through the right side and stole second. Nano Hart (Hilo, HI) moved Robinson to third with his own single to right center. Senior Dayton Kurian (Las Vegas, NV) provided the final piece with a one out single RBI to right field bringing Robinson home.
Stanislaus state did not waste time answering as they assembled a big inning in the bottom of the fifth brining in five runs and moving the scoreboard to 7-1 in their favor.
Jessup wasn't done; however. In the top of the sixth, Stanislaus walked four consecutive Jessup batters giving the Warriors loaded bases in addition to an easy run. Kurian came through in a big way for the Warriors once more with another single to right field giving Robinson and Joshua Duitsman (Bakersfield, CA) room to score.
The momentum carried into the top of the seventh inning for the Warriors where they would put another two runs on the board. Duitsman and Steven Stockton (Stockton, CA) found themselves on first and third and each advanced on a wild pitch with Stockton crossing home plate on the play. Robinson then doubled down the left field line sending Duitsman home and bringing the Warriors back within one at 7-6.
Stanislaus State stifled any hopes of the comeback in the bottom of the seventh as they proceeded to produce an eight-run inning, putting the game out of Jessup's reach at 15-6.
Offensively, Duitsman and Kurian each went 2-3 at bat in the game with Duitsman crossing home plate twice and Kurian batting in three runs. Robinson also had a great night going 2-4 with two runs and an RBI.
The loss was credited to Jessup's Steven Rodriguez (Reseda, CA) who pitched three innings allowing one earned run on four hits with one strikeout. Cody Kruip was given the win on the night pitching one inning allowing no runs, no hits and striking out one.
The Warriors take to the road this weekend for a three-game conference series against Vanguard University, playing game one on April 15 at 3 p.m. before a doubleheader on April 16 starting at 11 a.m. The team returns for their final home series of the season when they host Menlo College. The teams will play one game on April 22 at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader for senior day on April 23 starting at 11 a.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).
