COSTA MESA, Calif. – Looking to bounce back after dropping two yesterday at Vanguard, the Warriors hit the field again to finish the four-game set. It was not the day Jessup hoped for, as after two lopsided losses, the Warriors suffer their first four-game sweep of the year.
"We were beaten by a better team this weekend," said a disappointed
Trevor Paine after Saturday's finale. "They outperformed us in all areas. We need to learn from this and get back to work this week."
The Lions made things difficult for the Warriors right from the start, as they scored in three of the first four innings to take an early 5-0 lead. The big blow came in the second when Omar Ortiz hit a three-run homer to left-center.
Trailing 7-0 in the seventh, Jessup finally got on the board thanks to an RBI single from
Kevin Gutierrez. Unfortunately, a shutdown inning would be denied, as in the bottom half, Vanguard plated eight runs to pull ahead 15-1.
Looking for a miraculous comeback in the final two innings, Jessup got started with solo home runs from
Nick Kasparian and
Kreighton Tsuruda-Gaspar in the eighth.
Max Modeste would launch a solo shot in the ninth, Jessup's final run of the 15-4 loss.
Game two was a closer affair from the start, as Jessup turned the ball to freshman
Benny May for his first collegiate start. The Lions got to May in the first as a run scored on a groundout. A home run in the third followed by an RBI double in the fourth ended Mays day.
May allowed five runs on nine hits in his four innings of work. He recorded his first loss as a collegiate pitcher.
Marlin Brucato came in to toss two innings of relief work.
The Lions tagged Brucato in the sixth for a two-run home run, setting the score at the eventual final 7-0.
"I think we can take this as a learning experience, and we are far away from a finished product," added Paine, who remains optimistic for this team's potential. "We have another tough conference opponent next weekend, so we need to move past this and start preparing to get after it next weekend."
With the two losses, Saturday Jessup suffers a four-game sweep at the hand of Vanguard. The Warriors fall to 8-6 overall on the season, 0-4 in conference play.
Jessup will look to regroup as they return home next weekend to start a four-game set with San Diego Christian. Game one of the series is set for Friday at McBean Park, with first pitch taking place at 11 a.m.
***
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).
