ROCKLIN, Calif. – After dropping game 1 in the GSAC Championship Tournament, William Jessup University's softball team (156-26, 9-15) made an exhilarating comeback to defeat Hope International in game two and keep their season alive.
GAME 1
The Lions of Vanguard University controlled run production on the day. Vanguard plated two runs in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run single. The Warriors looked poised to bring the game into their control, loading the bases with just one out in the top of the fifth, but the next two batters flew out to left field with no runs reaching home plate.
The scare motivated Vanguard to grab a pair of safety runs, and the Lions scored two in the bottom of the sixth to claim 4-0 victory.
Jessup's Shelbi Graifman (Antioch, CA) pitched all six innings for the Warriors in the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out five batters. Kyla Cisneros (Visalia, CA) led the Warriors offensively with a base hit and a base on balls. The win went to Vanguard's Taylor Doyle who pitched seven innings allowing no runs on three hits with zero strikeouts.
GAME 2
Having lost game one the Warriors found themselves in a single loss elimination scenario for the remainder of the tournament. They were immediately scheduled to face off against Hope International in a win or go home game.
Hope quickly leapt out in front of the Warriors in the top of the first inning where they scored four runs after hitting two home runs; leaving Jessup a steep hill to climb.
The Warrior squad was up to the challenge, however, and fought to bring the score to even over the next four innings. In the bottom of the third Delaney Slater (Folsom, CA), who reached base after being hit by a pitch, was driven home by a Graifman base hit. After Graifman, Clarissa Blaquera (Union City, CA) nailed a double, scoring teammate Kyla Cisneros () before Graifman plated a run on an Amanda Taylor (Rio Oso, CA) base hit RBI.
The Warriors, still a run short, continued their momentum in the bottom of the fourth inning when Slater hit a base hit RBI, bringing home Kristina Ortiz (Clovis, CA) and tying the game at 4-4.
Hope would find their offensive production again in the seventh and final regulation inning, taking a one-run lead over the Warriors and placing themselves three outs away from the victory. The three outs would prove to be too much to handle for Hope in the bottom of the seventh when Slater nailed a two-out home run to push the Warrior's season into extra innings.
Jessup managed an impressive defensive hold in the top of the first extra inning, not allowing the Royal's to post anything to the scoreboard. In the bottom of the eighth Amanda Taylor singled and Kaylee Surrell (Stockton, CA) came in as a pinch runner. Riley Williams (Orangevale, CA) hit a beautiful sacrifice bunt to send Surrell to third. Freshman catcher Mikayla Laymance (Grass Valley, CA) came to the plate to hit the walk-off RBI, doubling into right field and giving Jessup the 6-5 victory in extra innings.
Graifman earned the win for the Warriors pitching eight innings and allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out three. Campoy earned the loss for Hope after coming in the game in relief and pitching 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with zero strikeouts.
William Jessup University's softball team will continue on in the conference championship tournament, taking on the fourth seed San Diego Christian University Hawks, at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, April 29. The game will be held in Atherton California, at host school Menlo College.
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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).
