MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Jessup baseball returned to the NAIA Opening Round for their second-straight season, this time a long way from home and the California sun. An over three-hour delay would be the start to their matchup against No. 3 Bryan (Tenn.) but the second delay in the bottom of the seventh would be just the boost the Warriors needed to score the game-winning run in the following frame for the 4-3 victory over the Lions.

Coach Trevor Paine was impressed with his team's perseverance through the unpredictable Miami thunderstorms, "Despite the delays our energy stayed up all day. We did a great job of grinding out at-bats and finding ways on base."

The No. 3 seeded Lions would hit the board in the first frame as a home run with the wind going out would carry them to the 3-0 advantage. But it wouldn't take long for the Warriors to strike back as Kawaiola Takemura led things off with a double, coming into score off a single from Jordan Williams. 

Will Law would even the score in the later portion of the frame with two outs hitting a 2-run bomb to right field.

The Warriors and Lions would be locked at 3 for the following six innings, the seventh inning stretch accompanied by an over 30-minute rain delay to spark a dance battle between the teams to pass the time.

Well rested, the Warriors returned to the field in the bottom of the seventh, but it would be the bottom of the eighth that brought the play.

Senior Josh Duitsman would step into the box in the bottom of the eighth with a single out and bases loaded, looking to give the Warriors the lead they needed to close out game one on top. He would hit a high-fly ball to left field bringing in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly with just three outs to win.

Paine said, "Duitsman executed with two strikes to hit the sac fly, great execution by the senior to bring in a run and great inning all around."
 
Grant St. Martin started on the mound for the Warriors in an impressive 6.1 inning outing allowing just 3 runs on 10 hits, retiring 6 batters. Jordan Yu would come in to relieve the senior for the final 2.2 facing 10 batters and striking out 5 of the last 6 collecting his seventh win of the season as the Warriors defeated Bryan College 4-3.
 
"Winning games come tournament play starts on the mound," Paine commented. "St. Martin gave us an outstanding outing and Yu slammed the door. Pitching won us this game."

The Warriors will return to the field tomorrow with the same game time as today, 11:15 am PST, but with the weather continuing to be a factor, be sure to check social media for updates. Their opponent yet to be determined as game three is still going on, No. 1 St. Thomas against No. 4 Talladega.

Paine commented on the unpredictable weather, "We are going to have to stay poised and keep getting good outings. I think we understand at this point how unpredictable the weather can be so we just have to stay ready than play clean baseball."
 

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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).