GLENDALE, Calif. - Nothing came easy for the William Jessup Warriors' softball team on Friday, as they fell to Arizona Christian in the conference opening doubleheader. 

The Warriors had a slow start in game one as they watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 12-4 loss to Arizona Christian on Friday.  A pair of home runs in the first inning by the Firestorm would set the tone. 

In the third inning, a pair of runs and the first on the day would come for the Warriors as lead-off Terra Goetz found the back wall with a two-run homer over the left-center fence. The Warriors would only trail 3-2 at the end of the inning.

Another four runs would hit the board for the home team before Jessup answered in the sixth inning with none other than another home run, this time for Kayla Altheide to push a pair of runs across.

That would be it for the Warriors in game one as the Firestorm continued to push the runs to end the game early with the advantage, 12-4. 

The William Jessup Warriors struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Arizona Christian, giving up 12 runs.

Katie Blankenheim was in the circle for the Jessup Warriors, lasting four innings, allowing seven hits and five runs.  Liana Castro threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Taya Ruiz, Shay Trent, Mehana Johns, Goetz, and Altheide each collected one hit to lead William Jessup Warriors.

The Warriors would strike first in game two with a sac-fly to bring in Shay Trent but that would be all for the Warriors as the Firestorm answered back in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good.

Terra Goetz was on the rubber for the Warriors as she went four innings, allowing 11 runs on ten hits and striking out one.

Tomorrow the Warriors will take on Ottawa University in a doubleheader before heading home for a pair of weekends on their home diamond.

"Today we did not showcase who we are as a team and the talents we possess," head coach Brie Campbell said. "Tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to take the field and play the game we know we are capable of executing."  
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).