ROCKLIN, Calif. - The final two doubleheaders of the Simpson Classic ended in a split for the Warriors as they defeated Eastern Oregon to start the day with a walk-off grand slam, but were unable to take one from the home Red Hawks to finish 2-2 over the two-day contests.

"Playing tough teams early shows where we are strong and where we need to grow to be successful this season," head coach Kristen Drage commented on a strong schedule out the gate. "It's good to see not only can we compete but have success against these teams early in the season." 


GAME 1
A pair of singles in the bottom of the first frame would get things started for the Warriors as they faced the nationally recognized Eastern Oregon Mountaineers for the second time in the same amount of days. 

Abbie Lewis and Jena Ovens would both make their way around the bases without getting caught stealing, and Lewis would cross home plate for the 1-0 advantage after the first frame. 

The game would go scoreless until the top of the fourth inning where the Mountaineers pushed a trio of runs across for the 3-1 advantage against starting pitcher Jenna Patterson. But it wouldn't take long for the Warriors to respond as they scored their own three runs in the following inning.

Senior Kaylee Surrell would get things started with a home run to center field, while Taya Ruiz reached on a walk and would come in to score as Lauren Garoutte hit her own bomb for the 4-3 advantage after four innings.

Easter Oregon wouldn't give up too easily as they took back the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. Jessup would have a late comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning led by Ruiz who singled and was advanced to scoring position by Garoutte. With a runner on first and third, Lewis would score the game-tying run that would secure the extra innings as Jessup and EOU were locked at 5 each at the end of seven innings.

With a runner starting on second in the international tiebreaker, that run would come in to score for the Mountaineers with the 6-5 lead. Jessup would have the last opportunity to even the score and they did that and more.

With two on and two out, the Red Hawks loaded the bases as Ovens stepped up to the plate, with the first pitch delivered, she wouldn't waste time as she hit a walk-off grand slam for the 9-5 victory and sweep of RV Eastern Oregon.

"All weekend our team fought hard," Drage reflected. "We never felt out of a game because we have confidence in our offense to produce 1-9 throughout the lineup. You want players to step up and throughout the game and numerous seniors did with home runs by Surrell, Garoutte, and the walk-off grand slam by Ovens." 

Brooke Sarro would come in to pitch the final 2.1 innings to collect her third win of the season.

GAME 2
Looking to finish where they left off yesterday, the Warriors faced Simpson University in their final game of the classic, another nationally recognized team to start the 2019 campaign.

The Warriors and Red Hawks would go scoreless for the two opening innings before Simpson answered with a five-run advantage in the bottom of the third. They would add on their final two runs in the following two innings.

Jessup would post their only runs in the top of the fifth with a home run by junior Natalie Basaldua to bridge the gap, but too many runners were left on as the Warriors fell 7-2 to the Red Hawks unable to take one from the RV program.  

"This weekend was good for us to learn and get better. Our two biggest areas of improvement needed are runners left on base and clean defense," said Drage. "We know we left too many runners on base this weekend, even though we scored a lot of runs. But we also gave away too many free bases and need to execute better on the defense side." 

The Warriors will return home this weekend to host their own nationally ranked opponents in Saturday's matchup against Southern Oregon University and Sunday's doubleheader against Oregon Tech.

Drage comments on the weekend coming up where tough competition continues, "We have another testing weekend ahead of us and know where we need to improve this week. If there is one thing I know about this team, it is they learn quick and work hard. Coming into a new coaching style and taking off with it speaks to their adaptability. We're still learning but we are making great strides."  
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).