ROCKLIN, Calif. - Jessup baseball returned to McBean park in their 2019 season opener, welcoming the Corban University Warriors for a two-day four-game series. Day one was a hit, as the Warriors did just that with a combined 18 hits and 8 home runs to sweep the opening day festivities.

"I'm really happy with the way we competed on both sides of the ball today and think it's good to know early in the season that your team won't panic if they are down," head coach Trevor Paine said. "The guys showed resilience to keep playing and found a way back into games. I'm really proud of the way we responded on the mound and at the plate." 


GAME 1
The home Warriors would have to play a couple rounds of catch up in the opening innings of the season, but showing composure and fight proving adversity is nothing new to this team. 

Corban hit the board early in the first inning with a pair of runs, but the Warriors were quick to answer back in the bottom of the frame as Austen Swift hit the first home run of the year, and Joe Starick pushed the tying run across. 

The visiting Warriors would ride a 7-2 lead over the next two innings with four home runs of their own. The incoming junior from Dallas Baptist, Anders Green would respond with his first home run at McBean to close the gap 7-3.

It wouldn't be until the sixth inning that the board would light up again, the Warriors continuing to chip away at Corban's lead, still trailing 7-5 with three innings to go. But it wouldn't take the 9th inning at bat for the Warriors to show up as an 8th inning surge would start off with Cal Koga doubling to right field, and Starick following suit for the go-ahead 8-7 lead. To seal the deal,  stepping into the box for the first time in the game was Josh Duitsman who hit a deep home run to right field, bringing in Starick for the 10-8 advantage.

"This is a mature group that has been down late in games before," Paine commented. "We never seem to panic in those situations. We had opportunities throughout the game we just needed the big hit and that came from Starick and Duitsman."

The final three outs were delivered by closer Tyler Fujimoto who collected his first save of the seasons, reliever Brett Wetteland snagging his first win in Warrior uniform going three innings, allowing no hits or runs scored.

GAME 2

Taking the mound for the Warriors in his season debut was Ashkhon Kuhaulua who rallied for five innings, allowing just one hit, no runs and 4 strikeouts.

The bats would come alive for the Warriors in the second inning as Duitsman went two-for-two hitting another home run in his second plate appearance bringing in a pair of Warriors with him. Green would continue the second inning burst with a triple to clear the bases, putting Jessup on top 6-0 headed into the top of the third. 

Another 6 runs would light up the scoreboard in the following inning as Duitsman, third time's the charm, knocked a two-run homer and teammate Jordan Williams joined in with his first home run of the season. Swift and Green would both hit RBI doubles to bring the score to 12-0 at the end of the frame.

The final two runs would come in their final at-bat as Dakota Spillers hit one out, and with bases loaded, Noah Shackles hit a grand slam bringing in Duitsman, Grant St. Martin and Starick, for the 17-0 victory.

The series will continue tomorrow at McBean Park for another doubleheader starting at 11 am to close the series against Corban University. 

"We can't get too high off our final victory," Paine concluded. "We were pleased that we could execute so well in all facets of the game but Corban is a really good club and we remember from last year winning both games on Friday only to get swept on Saturday. We have to come to the yard and play 16 good innings tomorrow." 

    
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).