LINCOLN, Calif. – After a high scoring affair Saturday afternoon, Jessup and Oregon Tech hit the diamond once again Sunday to wrap up this two-game series. Needing extra innings, the Warriors went home happy thanks to a walk-off double, sealing a 6-5 victory.
After a leadoff double from senior
Jordan Yu, with one out in the inning, freshman
Joseph Luevano drove a ball off the wall in right-center, sending in the runner as the Warriors stormed the field.
"It's awesome. I think we did the same thing last year," said Head Coach
Trevor Paine on ending the opening weekend with a walk-off. "It's great for the guys.
"I told the team after the game, it's stressful to play these close games where you have to make decisions and make moves. But anyone can win a blowout or coach a blowout."
Luevano, who entered the game in the sixth, finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and an RBI.
None of this would be possible without the clutch pitching from senior
Ricardo Torres Jr. Entering the game to start the tenth, Torres faced some pressure as Oregon Tech loaded the bases with just one out. A strikeout and grounder back to the mound would follow, sending the game to the bottom half all even.
Torres earned the victory, his first of the season. After a solid outing on the hill yesterday, Torres gave up just one hit and walked two in his inning of work.
"Ricardo has a rubber arm and wants to throw every day, so I knew him throwing 60 pitches yesterday was light work for him," added Paine. "He wanted to throw."
Another strong outing on the mound came from freshman
Benny May. Making his collegiate debut, May was outstanding on the bump as he allowed just four hits and struck out six over his 4.1 innings of work.
May did allow two runs (one earned), however, as in the eighth, the Owls tacked on two to even the score at 5-5. After a throwing error allowed Oregon Tech to get two runners on, Mitchell Swanson drilled a two-run double to right.
"Benny was unbelievable today," added Paine on the outing of his freshman. "We've seen it since he first stepped on campus, just the composure he has, he carries himself like an upperclassman. I didn't think the moment would be too big for him."
Jessup had to come back in this one, as the Owls jumped out to a 3-1 lead through three. Jessup took the lead in the fourth thanks to an RBI double from junior
Kawaiola Takemura. Takemura would later come around to score along with senior Mason Sherill on an Oregon Tech throwing error.
Having another great game at the plate for Jessup Sunday was junior
Mike Shoenberger. After a 3-for-4 day on Saturday, Shoenberger went 2-for-5 Sunday with an RBI. Sophomore
Connor Franco went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
The win earns the Warriors a two-game sweep of the Owls and improves Jessup's record to 2-0 overall on the young season.
Next up on the schedule for the Warriors is a four-game series against Corban University. Taking place at home in Lincoln, that series will begin on Friday, February 12.
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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 and Instagram).
