LINCOLN, Calif. - The Warriors stepped on the field at McBean Park for the last time on Thursday afternoon, win or lose, their season at home would come to an end and they would either advance to the NAIA World Series or head home. Jessup baseball continued to make history coming back to tie the ballgame at 15-15 in the seventh inning after being down by as much as 8 runs, but Antelope Valley would have the last chance opportunity and seal the win in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off hit to end the game, 16-15.

Game nine of the NAIA Opening Round started with a bang as the Warriors hit first with leadoff Will Law launching a bomb over the left-field wall on the fourth pitch of the game, and Austen Swift entering the box smashing his first pitch over deep center for the 2-0 lead.

The third run of the game for Jessup would be the third home run of the game, this time from starting catcher Cal Koga extending the Warrior's lead 3-1. But the Pioneers didn't wait long to answer back as the next frame they pushed two runs across to level the playing field.

The final lead for Jessup came in the top of the fourth as Kawai Takemura made his way around the bases coming in to score on a single by Swift. 

Nevertheless, the Pioneers would take the lead right back in the bottom of the inning. Antelope Valley would post 9 runs on seven hits, with two home runs in the fourth inning for the 12-4 lead.

The Warriors would have themselves a high-scoring inning in the sixth as Swift hit his second homer of the game and Josh Duitsman hit a 2-RBI double to deep leftfield posting 5 runs, bridging the gap, now down 12-9.

Both teams would exchange runs the next two innings, Antelope Valley with the 15-10 advantage headed into the final two innings. Another multiple-run inning would end in the Warriors favor as Connor Braun stepped into the box with bases loaded, two outs and two strikes. The starting first baseman hit the fourth pitch deep over the left field wall to clear the bases and even the score, 15-15.

Antelope Valley would have the last-chance opportunity as the home team in the bottom of the ninth, tie ballgame, one out, and two runners on. Adam Maciel for the Pioneers would hit the 0-2 pitch for a walk-off single and win to advance to the NAIA World Series.

The Warriors end the season nothing short of historic as they captured their 41st win in postseason play, the most wins in program history by over 30 while clinching the GSAC regular-season title, GSAC Tournament Championship and the program's first bid to the NAIA Opening Rounds. Finishing the season ranked 10th in the country, the Warriors made their mark under first-year head coach Jake McKinley and his coaching staff.
 

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).