REDDING, Calif. - With over two weeks of rain delay and many canceled games, the Lady Warriors finally hit the field this past weekend taking on Southern Oregon University and Southwest University for a two-game series in Redding, Calif.

Kicking-off competition, the Warriors took on the Southern Oregon Raiders on Friday but were unable to connect at the plate dropping their game of the season, and series 4-0. 

The Warriors had a trio of hits compared to the Raiders seven hits off junior starter Shelbi Graifman (1-1). Kyla Cisneros got things started for Jessup in the bottom of the first with a single up the middle with two outs already on the board for SOU. Taya Ruiz kept the rally going advancing Cisneros to second off a single to left, looking to get the pair of runs the Raiders put on the board in the top of first. 

Unable to continue the momentum, the Warriors left two on in the bottom of the first.  Southern Oregon would add another pair of runs to the scorebook in the top of the sixth to take the 4-0.  With the do-or-die last at-bats in the bottom of the sixth, Mikayla Laymance started the inning with a single to left, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback for the Warriors.

For game two of the day, the Warriors took on Northwest University (Wash.) in a quick contest due to weather conditions. Despite the rain, the two teams got in 6 innings where the Warriors continued to struggle offensively on the day.  Collecting just two hits against the Eagles, Cisneros kicked it off again for the Warriors with two down in the bottom of the first but wasn't able to get the Warriors on the board.

The lone run would come in the top of the third inning off Warriors' Mariah Gonzalez giving up just one run off 3 hits, with 4 strikeouts and her first loss of the season.  

The Warriors fell to 2-2 with two more opportunities against same opponents on Saturday to bounce bat from the offensive dry spell.
 
The Raiders and Warriors met again on in their final duel for the weekend, where the Warriors bats were on fire posting 11 hits to their previous three the day before.

The Raiders were the first on the board again, but it was a new day for the Warriors and they answered right back with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning with three-lead off singles. With Haley Stevenson in the box with bases loaded she connected scoring Natalie Basaldua, and Ali Medina followed on a throwing error by SOU to tie it up 2-2.

Corina Salinas would give the Warriors the lead, 3-2 to start the second inning scoring Clarissa Blaquera. The Raiders would answer back in the bottom of the inning scoring their own 3 runs off Graifman, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits to retire after the second.

Continuing their offensive threat that was lacking the previous game, Jessup answered back with 2 runs in the top of the third inning off 3 hits to tie it up, yet again (5-5).

Moriah Gonzalez would come in for the Warriors to finish the final four innings, allowing just one run on one hit with 2 strikeouts. That run would come in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-5 lead to defeat the Warriors and take the weekend series 2-0.

Closing out the four-game series, Jessup took to the field against Northwest one more time, looking to keep the momentum from the previous game going offensively but the Eagles would yet again score late in the ballgame for the single run of the game, and victory over the Warriors 1-0.

The Warriors would collect 5 hits against the Eagles, leading the Warriors left fielder Stephanie Scott with 2 hits in her four plate appearances, followed by Cisneros (1), Ruiz (1) and Breanna Miskimen (1).

While the Warriors dropped all contests now 2-4 overall, the growth was proven in their offensive performances in Saturday's contests. Up next the Warriors will head back to Redding, Calif. to take on Eastern Oregon and Corban University on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18.


 
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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).