LINCOLN, Calif. – Taking on the nation's top-ranked team in Southern Oregon University, the Warriors continued what aims to be a thrilling and challenging season. With a schedule currently holding only one opponent not in the national rankings, the Warriors stood the test before dropping both games in Saturday's doubleheader.
"We beat ourselves today," said Head Coach
Brie Campbell. "Southern Oregon is a top team in the country for a reason and we didn't compete to our potential."
In the circle in game one was
Katie Blankenheim. After earning the win on Thursday, Blankenheim pitched a complete game where she allowed four runs on 14 hits.
Game one moved quickly into the third with neither team moving around the bases before SOU tacked on a run with a sacrifice fly to left. The Raiders added the remainder of their runs in the fifth, plating three on five hits.
Continuing to swing a hot bat for Jessup is Lesieli Aholeli. In the sixth, the shortstop drove a ball to deep center that turned into a triple, driving in the Warriors' lone run of the game.
Game two was a more even affair, as the Warriors looked to get back that win that the Raiders took in Saturday's opener.
After the Raiders plated runs in each of the first two innings, the Warriors charged back thanks to a single up the middle from
Kaela Hangebrauck to put Jessup on the board. One inning later, Jessup would tie the game off an RBI double to left by
Natalie Basaldua.
Terra Goetz received the ball for Jessup in game two. Similar to her start Thursday, after allowing early runs, Goetz settled in to keep SOU scoreless through the middle innings.
Southern Oregon finally broke the game open in the third, driving in three runs to make it a 5-2 ballgame. In the seventh, Jessup was forced to go to the bullpen after the Raiders struck for two more to push their lead up to five.
Hangebrauck looked to be the player of the game for Jessup in game two, as after
Shay Trent led off the inning being hit by a pitch, Hangebrauck drove her in with a triple to center. Smart baserunning by Hangebrauck off a popup two batters later allowed her to score the final run of Jessup's 7-4 loss.
"It's very early in the season and we will get another shot next weekend to come out and do what I know we can do," added Campbell. The Warriors will square off with the Raiders again next weekend up in Redding.
"We are very talented and we're grateful we compete against the best to make us better."
The stacked schedule for Jessup rolls on as on Monday, the Warriors host No. 23 ranked Corban University for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.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 Snapchat).
