SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Warriors headed out for their final day of the conference opening weekend taking on the Westmont Warriors after a day one split at Russ Carr Field. It would be a battle to the scoreboard where the last-chance Warriors took the 1-0 victory, but Jessup battled back in game two for the 5-3 win as the Warriors went 2-2 on the week.

Head coach Trevor Paine respond about the conference opening weekend, "I thought we competed really well all weekend. Westmont is a fantastic team that was playing well going into the series, plus playing on the road is always difficult, especially against an opponent as well rounded as them."

Game one was a pitching duel as Micah Gunther toed the rubber for Jessup to start in a 4.2 inning appearance that was scoreless, only allowing two hits with five strikeouts. In the top of the frames, the Westmont defense kept the Warrior's hits at bay four singles through the first four innings wouldn't be enough to bring in a run.

Taking the mound for Gunther was Brett Wetteland entered in the bottom of the fifth, keeping the Westmont Warriors scoreless till the final frame. A lead-off double and a walk-off single would decide the fate as Westmont snagged the 1-0 advantage in game one.

"Gunther was great in game one," said Paine. "It was the type of outing he's capable of every time he takes the mound. Wetteland behind him was great as well. They gave us a chance to win the game, we just weren't able to push a run across for them." 

The mindset would mirror yesterday's first-game loss as the Warriors were challenged to continue to put themselves in scoring position by Paine, "The mindset going into game 2 was much the same as yesterday. Keep getting guys on and give ourselves a chance to score runs."

The Warriors wouldn't waste any time as they put three runs on the board in the opening three innings as Cal Koga and Grant St. Martin collected their first RBI's of the weekend, Anders Green also bringing in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Westmont would answer back with a pair of runs in the fourth, meanwhile wouldn't help themselves as the Warriors loaded the bases in the sixth inning and 5 walks would result in a pair of runs for Jessup to secure the 5-2 win. 

Kawai Takemura and Will Law would lead the Warriors going 2-for-3 from the plate. Steven Talbert (1-1) would collect his first win in Warrior uniform in a three-inning outing with two strikeouts.

"We were finally able to get a couple big hits from St. Martin and Koga," responded Paine on the game two win. "The plan was to try to piece it together on the mound with Torres, Talbert and (Jordan) Yu. All three guys were very good. Anytime you can hold a lineup like that to 3 runs in 16 innings you have to be pleased."
 
The Warriors return home to host their first GSAC matchup of the 2019 campaign on Friday (11am/3pm) and Saturday (11am/3pm) next week taking on The Master's University.   
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).