ROCKLIN, Calif. - The William Jessup University softball team improved to 10-13 overall, while remaining at .500 in conference, now 6-6 after a split hosting Menlo College.  The Warriors fell behind early in game one but came back late for the 5-4 win, while trading places with the Oaks in game two, going ahead early but unable to maintain the lead in the bottom of the seventh falling 6-3.

GAME 1
Falling behind early, Menlo College scored two runs in the top of the first inning off starting pitcher for the Warriors Shelbi Graifman, allowing three of their eight hits in the opening frame.

It wouldn't be until the following inning that the Warriors answered back started by Clarissa Blaquera with a single to lead things off. Pushing the first run across was Graifman with the fielder's choice to score Tessa Harris and put the Warriors on the board, Oaks up 2-1.

In the bottom of the third the Warriors picked up right where they left off as Harris reached on a walk followed by Corina Salinas singling on a bunt for two runners on with one out. Haley Stevenson and Blaquera would both get on, with Taya Ruiz bringing in the tying run (2-2) with a single thru the left side.

For the third inning in a row the Warriors tacked on their final two runs with a two out rally led by familiar faces, Harris and Salinas. Both reached on fielding errors by the Oaks, with Kyla Cisneros hitting a double to score Harris and later coming in on steal and overthrow to score, up 5-2 over Menlo.

Graifman would give up a pair of home runs, one in the 5th and another in the 7th, but managed to hang onto the lead for the 5-4 final over Menlo in game one.

GAME 2
The Warriors scored three runs early and kept the Oaks at bay offensively until the bottom of the seventh inning where the 4-run frame would give them the 6-3 win.

Kicking it off for the Warriors in a two-out situation was the all too familiar Harris and Salinas that singled to get on, with Cisneros pushing them in scoring position off a sacrifice bunt. Blaquera would push across the first two runs with a shallow fly to right field that was dropped to go up 2-0. Ali Medina would get the final RBI of the game with a single to right field to score Blaquera and go up 3-0.

Taking the circle for the Warriors in the second game was freshman Mariah Gonzalez who held the Oaks until the third inning where they scored two runs.

But it wasn't until the seventh inning when the Oaks came alive with a four-run rally off four hits and two errors by the Warriors. Unable to answer back in the final frame, the Warriors split with the Oaks and remain at .500 in conference (6-6).

Jessup will look to take on Arizona Christian this coming week on Saturday, March 25th with first pitch slatted for 12pm of the double-header. Be sure to check jessupathletics.com for updates in the schedule if weather is a factor.
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).