ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Warriors hosted a four-team series Friday and Saturday taking on two ranked opponents in Southern Oregon and Simpson University, walking away with the split and advancing to 4-2 overall to start the season.

Day 1:
Jessup Softball took to the diamond against nationally ranked No. 3 Southern Oregon in their first matchup of two for the weekend.  The Raiders started it off in the 1st inning sending a runner across the plate but Jessup was quick to respond as Abbie Lewis singled to get on base and was quickly pushed around by a Southern Oregon error. Shelbi Graifman would follow with a single to left center, allowing Natalie Basaldua's run take the lead in the bottom of the frame.
The game was locked at 2-1 until the bottom of the 5th when Stephanie Scott started off the inning with a single, followed by Lewis being walked.  With Scott now in scoring position, Basaldua stepped up to the plate and singled to left field, bringing home both Scott and Lewis, for the 4-1 advantage.  

The Raiders closed the gap in the top of the 6th, bringing home one run but the Warriors preserved the 4-2 win, in a combination of smart defensive play and strong pitching.  This was Graifman's 3rd win in as many games, only allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 5 strikeouts.

Facing their second nationally ranked team of the day, the Warriors took on No. 18, Simpson University.  The Red Hawks took an early lead, scoring first in the top of the 2nd and adding two more in 3rd.  Down 3-0, Jessup's offense found the spark that they needed. Scott started off with a single to left center, followed by a single from Corina Salinas.  Up next was Lewis, who's single allowed Scott to put Jessup on the board. Jena Oven's sac bunt advanced Salinas and Lewis into scoring position, allowing Basaldua's double to bring them home, tying the game at 3 a piece.

The Red Hawks answered back with a run of their own in the top of the 4th, putting Jessup at the 3-4 disadvantage. However, the Warriors' bats were hot in the bottom of the 4th, starting with a double to center field from Jenna Patterson.  Scott followed with a single, advancing Patterson to 3rd.  With Scott stealing 2nd and Ovens being walked, the bases were loaded for Basaldua, who's single brought Patterson across the plate to tie the game, 4-4.  With bases loaded again, Scott scores as Graifman advances on a walk, ending the inning 5-4 in Jessup's favor.

Simpson was not done battling as they closed out the top of the 5th with 2 more runs, taking back the lead 6-5.  Determined not to be defeated, the Warriors took back the lead in the bottom of the 6th, beginning with another single from Salinas.  Trailing was Lewis with a single, as Salinas advanced to 2nd on an SU error.  Basaldua's third hit of the game, a double to left field, would bring in Salinas and put Lewis on 3rd.  Lauren Garoutte's ground out at 1st allowed Lewis to come home, putting Jessup back on top 7-6.  Arianna Barton, pinch running for Basaldua, would cross the plate on fielding error to distance Jessup's lead to 8-6.

Brooke Sarro would get her first win of the season in a strong two inning appearance, with Graifman closing things out with the save.


Day Two:
Jessup would start their double header facing the talented SOU squad again.  The Raiders brought home one run in the 1st inning but Jessup was quick to reply.  Graifman's two RBI's in the bottom of the first would give the Warriors the 2-1 advantage.

It wasn't until the top of the 4th that Southern Oregon would regain the lead, bringing in two runs to make it 3-2.  Answering back in the bottom of the inning was Taya Ruiz on a sac fly from Patterson, evening up the scoreboard to 3 a piece.

Jessup would take the lead in the bottom of the 6th, as Raechel Hooper clears the bases on a single, advancing to 3rd on a pair of errors, putting the Warriors ahead 4-3.

In the top of the 7th the Raiders brought home two runners on an in the park home run, taking back the lead 5-3.  Despite offensive efforts in the bottom of the 7th, the Warriors could not move around the bases, earning their first loss of the season.

Concluding tournament play, the Warriors faced off against the Simpson Red Hawks for the second time in two days.  Simpson was quick to take the lead, putting a run up in the 1st inning, followed by another in the top of the 3rd.  The Red Hawks would take a commanding lead in the top of the 5th, as three more players crossed the plate, putting Jessup at the 5-0 disadvantage.  Continuing their offensive strike, Simpson went into the bottom of the 6th inning ahead 6-0.
Jessup hit their offensive stride in the bottom of the 6th, as Hoopers two RBIs brought home Graifman and Basaldua.  Kaylee Surrell, pinch running for Hooper, would come home on a triple by Ruiz, cutting the deficit to 6-3. Ruiz would cross the plate on a Simpson error, bringing the game to 6-4.    

Graifman would sit two batters down in the top of the 7th, but Jessup was not able to rally offensively to complete the upset, ending the game 6-4 in the Red Hawk's favor.

Jessup ended the weekend, going 2-2 against nationally ranked opponents, putting them at 4-2 overall. The Warriors will head to the SoCal Classic next week to continue non-conference matchups on Friday and Saturday.  
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).