COSTA MESA, Calif. - Taking on their second opponent in the GSAC Championship on day two, the Warriors faced No. 1 seed in the tournament and nationally ranked Hope International for a spot in the Championship game. The fate of both teams would be decided in a pair of innings as the Warriors attacked in the bottom of two but a quick answer back by the Royals would ride to the finish in a 2-1 victory.
The Warriors would light up the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning as
Jena Ovens hit a single through the left side to bring Basaldua home with a close call at the plate that ended in the Warriors favor with an obstruction call by the catcher.
But it would be the next frame that the Royals answered right back posting a pair of runs for the 2-1 lead off a single to left center, which would be the winning runs.
The game would go silent for the final four innings between as the Warriors and Royals went scoreless as Hope continued the 2-1 edge.
Corina Salinas would attempt to get things started in the bottom of the fifth with a shot to left field but would be left stranded in scoring position as the inning retired.
It would come down to the final inning in the bottom of the seventh with senior
Raechel Hooper pinch-hitting with one out hitting a deep ball to the warning track, but just short of the home run the Warriors needed.
Being their first loss in the tournament, the Warriors will have one more chance to battle back to the Championship this afternoon at 3:30 pm taking on the winner of Vanguard University and Menlo College duel going on now.
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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).
