ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Warriors returned to McBean Park this afternoon welcoming the University of St. Katherine that was scheduled earlier this season but canceled due to rain. It would be a clean sweep on the opening day of the four-game series as Jessup took game one, 17-3 and took the 10-1 victory in the final game.

It was an early start offensively for the Warriors as the first frame brought across five runs with four singles led by Kawaiola Takemura. Jordan Williams, Grant St. Martin and Noah Shackles would collect the RBI-singles for the 5-0 lead through the top of the third.

Cal Koga would tally the sixth run of the game with a lead-off home run to start the bottom of the third, followed by a two-run homer from Will Law, just one of three on the day. Another five runs would make it 10-0 after the third inning.

St. Martin and Shackles would add to the RBI column with a pair in the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors adding three more runs before St. Katherine answered back with their own trio in the following frame.

Showing their depth in the final innings, the Warriors closed with three more runs in the final frame and Josh Hook shutting things down on the mound to end game one with the 17-3 advantage.

"Versatility in our lineup and our bench is one of our strengths," head coach Trevor Paine said. "Guys can play a lot of different positions and we can get creative with mixing guys in for defense and pinch hitting. We got a lot of guys in there and they all did a great job of being ready when their name was called."

Williams led the Warriors going 4-for-4 with 3 RBI's followed by St. Martin and Takemura going 3-for-4. Law would have a game-high 5 RBI's with Shackles and St. Martin bringing in three. On the mound, Micah Gunter collected his fifth win on the season in his six-inning appearance.

Another offensive surge in game two would secure the victory for the Warriors as they tallied three runs in the opening frame. St. Katherine would answer in the following inning with a single run, but starting pitcher Steven Talbert wouldn't let another run score in his six-inning outing.  

"Gunter and Talbert both did a great job of getting ahead and pitching to contact. They ate up 6 innings each which were going to be important for us this weekend," Paine said. "Our bullpen was outstanding as well it's great to see guys coming in and going right at hitters."

Getting back into the swing of things, the Warriors smashed five home runs in the second game, led by Law who had put up three on the day. Another three innings would see six runs and a lone run in between would secure the 10-1 victory for Jessup and sweep for day one of the four-game series.

"I was really happy with the at-bats all the way through the lineup in both games. It was our first real good day to hit where the ballpark was playing a little smaller and we took advantage of it," Paine went on to say, "It was good to see us putting up crooked numbers in several innings." 

The duo will meet back at McBean Park tomorrow with an 11 am first pitch of the final two games of the series before launching back into conference play next week

Paine concluded with, "I hope we can carry this momentum into tomorrow and not take our foot off the gas. It would be nice to finish the series strong and carry that back into conference play next weekend."

   
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).