ROCKLIN, Calif. - With weather moving the Warriors final game of the home series against Vanguard to Stockton for a night game, the baseball team came out strong proving it was still their home turf with a lights-out first inning to finish the series on top 4-1 over the Lions. Collecting their ninth win of the season, the Warriors are now tied with the programs most wins in a season record.
Vanguard would push one across in the top of the first inning against starting pitcher,
Hayden Piner, but a quick two outs to follow, the Warriors were able to hold off any stronger lead.
Answering back in the bottom frame, the Warriors fought back with four runs on four hits sparked by a lead-off double from
Rory Petersen, now in scoring position.
Sam Curtis would do his part in pushing over Petersen with a sacrifice bunt, as
Joshua Duitsman got the RBI to tie it up 1-1.
Not stopping there,
Javier Garcia had an RBI-double out to right field for the Warrior lead 2-1. The third double of the game would come from
Joey Torres to bring in Garcia, followed by Torres coming in to score on two errors by the Lions for the 4-1 advantage after one.
The following five innings Piner would get the job done on the mound allowing just one run in his 6 inning appearance, off four hits, with a career-high seven strikeouts collecting his third win of the season. The bullpen as a whole had a season-high and tying program-high 12 strikeouts on the night.
The Warriors would leave two on in the fourth and sixth with a pair of hits, but the game remained scoreless through the final 8 innings played for both teams.
Relief for the Warriors in the seventh would be
Justin Vlotho (1 IP, 1H), followed by
Mikey Saldana in the eighth with two strikeouts in his four batter appearance, and for with his fourth save of the season
Sam Curtis had one on and managed to sit down the final three batters securing the 4-1 victory.
The Warriors will hit the pavement to take on Stanislaus State for a mid-week game next Tuesday before their final conference road series facing Menlo College next weekend.
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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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).
