LINCOLN, Calif. - On a wet and muddy field at McBean Stadium, the Warriors officially began the 2021 season with the first of two games against the Oregon Tech Owls. Jessup's bats were in full effect, powering a late rally en route to a 14-9 Opening Day victory.  
 
After a week of heavy rain and wind, the initially scheduled duo of doubleheaders between these two teams had to be changed to a Saturday-Sunday two-game series. Even with noticeable signs of mud in the outfield, Head Coach Trevor Paine thought the field held up pretty good. 
 
"We knew the outfield wasn't going to be in great shape," said Paine, who worked tirelessly along with his staff to get the field in playing condition. 
 
"We were out here early in the morning working on it, so it was just one of those things where you had to overcome the adversities. It was the same for both teams out there."
 
Jessup got their scoring started early in the third thanks to a two-run shot from ninth place hitter Kevin Gutierrez, followed two batters later by a solo blast from Mike Shoenberger. 
 
Shoenberger had the hottest bat in the lineup Saturday as the junior went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. 
 
A run in the fourth, followed by two runs in the sixth, had the Warriors entering the seventh with a comfortable 6-2 advantage as they turned the ball over to senior Brett Wetteland. 
 
In the seventh, the Owls flipped the momentum as they sent nine runners to the plate, tagging Wetteland for five runs (three earned). The big play came on an RBI triple from Mitchell Swanson, putting the Owls ahead 7-6.
 
Gutierrez denied the Owls a shutdown inning in the bottom half, driving in two off a single to right-center. After an RBI double to even the score at 8-8 in the top of the eighth, it was all Warriors from that point on. 
 
Jessup plated six runners in the bottom of the eighth, two coming off a double from Kreighton Tsuruda-Gaspar, who entered the game an inning earlier as a defensive replacement. Leading by two, Jessup put the game out of reach on a three-run blast to right by junior Max Modeste. 
 
Getting the starting nod on Opening Day was freshman Max Moreno. Moreno only lasted two innings, surrendering just one run. Getting the win in relief was junior Marlin Brucato. Brucato tossed two innings, allowing two runs on two hits, striking out three. 
 
The losing pitcher Saturday was Brendan Talonen, who allowed seven runs (six earned) in his 1.1 innings of work. The Owls used four relievers after starter Trask Tellesmanich was pulled after two innings as well. 
 
Jessup compiled 11 hits, with Gutierrez finishing 2-for-3 and leadoff man Kawaiola Takemura going 2-for-5.
 
"Great day offensively," added Paine on his bats. "I thought we were competitive one-through-nine in the batting order. I thought we executed pretty well.
 
"I thought we ran the bases well. We got the timely hitting late in the game. Really an awesome day offensively to see the things we've been preaching in practice come to fruition in a live game."
 
Both teams will hit the diamond one more time tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. from McBean Stadium.   
   
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, and Snapchat).