SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Jessup baseball took the road to Santa Barbara to open conference play against the only other GSAC Top-25 ranked opponent, Westmont College where the opening doubleheader would end in a split, Jessup handing Westmont their first loss of the season.

"Westmont is a great opponent and is always tough to play, especially on their field," head coach Trevor Paine reflected. "They are a Top 25 team in the country and coming off a regional as well, so we knew going into the series we would have our hands full."

An early lead would favor the home Warriors in the first game as seven runs would cross the plate and Jessup was unable to answer back in the following frame as back-to-back singles by Noah Shackles and Kawai Takemura would be stranded as the inning expired.

Another two runs would be added to Westmont's final line as they served Jessup their first shutout of the season in the 9-0 victory.

Paine reflected on the series opener, "Game one really came down to one bad inning. I liked the way we battled at the plate and put ourselves in a position to get back into the game, but in the end, we just didn't get the hits with runners in scoring position that we needed."

Headed into game two, Paine stressed the importance of putting themselves in scoring position, and the hits would follow.

Taking the mound for Jessup in the second game of the day was veteran Ashkon Kuhaulua who was looking to collect his third win of the season, and that he would in a complete seven-inning appearance.

Another early strike would favor Westmont in the opening inning, but it wouldn't take long for Jessup to answer back and take the lead shortly after. Jordan Williams and Takemura would put the Warriors in scoring position in the third inning as Austen Swift would hit the two-RBI double to bring them in.

Returning this series was Anders Green who follows with his own single up the middle scoring Swift as the Warriors took the 3-1 lead over Westmont.

A scoreless three innings would follow before Westmont added their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, but a pair of strikeouts for the starting Kuhaulua would retire Westmont in their final opportunity collecting his third win of the season with a total 6 strikeouts. 

"I knew Ashkon would do his part and keep us in the game. He seems to reinvent himself and his style every time he pitches," Paine said. "I told him after the game he finds a new way to amaze me every time he pitches." 

Takemura led the Warriors going 4-for-8 followed by Williams (3-4) and Swift who brought in 2 RBI's over the doubleheader on day one.

The Battle of the Warriors will come to a close tomorrow as they continue their four-game series with the final doubleheaders starting at 11 am.
   
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).