MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - After bouncing back to win their first game 14-3 Wednesday keeping their season alive, the Warriors were unable to extend their season for an extra day as they lost 7-5 in their second matchup with No. 1 seed and host school, St. Thomas University Wednesday afternoon to close out the season 39-14.
On Wednesday morning against Thomas (Ga.), the Warriors rebounded nicely after their first loss in the opening round thanks to a strong start and an even stronger finish.
The Warriors opened the game with
Kawaiola Takemura hitting a double, then
Anders Green brought him in on a single to left giving Jessup the early 1-0 lead. The Night Hawks would tie things up in the bottom of the frame, but an explosive three-run second inning would give the Warriors the lead back.
The scoring was kick-started by a bomb to right field from
Austen Swift, then Takemura doubled to left field to bring in
Joe Starick who singled earlier in the inning leaving the score at 4-1.
In the third and fourth innings, the Warriors extended their lead on doubles from
Cal Koga and
Josh Duitsman doubled to bring in runs that gave the Warriors an 8-1 lead that proved to be too much for the Night Hawks to overcome.
However, the Warriors continued to pour it on offensively scoring another five insurance runs in the ninth inning helping them cruise to an 11-run victory.
On the mound,
Steven Talbert was dominant pitching eight innings allowing eight hits, and just one run earned.
The win would advance the Warriors to their final opponent, No. 1 seeded St. Thomas who they would have to beat twice to claim the Regional bid.
The scoring got started early for the Bobcats on a sacrifice fly that brought in a run in the third, but the Warriors would answer back in the fourth inning as
Josh Duitsman led the comeback with a two-run homer to right field bringing in
Will Law to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
The Jessup offense continued it's strong effort in the fifth inning as
Jordan Williams doubled to left field to bring in a run, then
Anders Green doubled to right to score Williams, and
Austen Swift capped it off with an RBI when he singled to center field and Green came in to give the Warriors a 5-1 advantage.
In the ensuing frame, things began to go downhill for the Warriors as
Jordan Yu allowed a homer and a single brought in another run as the lead dwindled to 5-3.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Warriors gave up a grand slam to left center field that proved to be the difference as St. Thomas went on to win by two runs for the Miami Gardens Regional bid to the World Series.
Joe Starick led all Warriors in the box going 7-for-10 on the day with Koga close behind 5-for-10.
With the second-best finish in program history, the Warriors had 39 wins on the season and clinched 21 hits in game one of the day for a season-best and runner-up in program history.
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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).
