LINCOLN, Calif. – After a four-game sweep of San Diego Christian last weekend, the Jessup baseball team took the field at McBean Park for day one of a two-day series with Westmont. Game one looked promising for Jessup at the start, but a five-run fifth inning for Westmont created enough distance for them to come away with an 8-6 win.
 
Since the fifth inning of game one, Jessup only gave up two more runs the rest of the day. Head Coach Trevor Paine commented on the solid effort from his pitching staff, saying, "Our guys started executing all their pitches, Max Moreno was able to land his breaking ball, and his change was probably the best it's been so far this year."
 
After falling behind 2-1 in the third inning of game one, the home Warriors rallied to retake the lead as Mike Shoenberger singled to center field, driving in Jordan Yu. Then, in the fourth inning, Dustin McElwain doubled to left, and Dylan Moser came in to score, putting Jessup ahead 3-2. This would be their last lead of the game, though, as Westmont strung together a five-run fifth inning to take a 7-3 lead and would hold on to win 8-6.
 
Jessup struck early in the back half of the doubleheader as Kreighton Tsuruda-Gaspar smashed a three-run homer to left-center field in the second inning. After adding another run in the third, Jessup opened up a four-run fourth inning thanks to a two-RBI single from Nicholas Hadd and a Joseph (Jay) Luevano RBI single.
 
Jessup added two insurance runs in the fifth as Tsuruda-Gaspar scored on a Shoenberger sacrifice fly, and Connor Franco came home on a fielding error. Jessup would win convincingly, 10-1.
 
Coach Paine commented on his team's batting today, saying, "We knew the big swing was coming eventually if we stayed diligent with our approach, and finally we were able to string some things together and land big shots. The crooked numbers are tough to play against."
 
Moreno captured his third win of the season on the mound, giving up only four hits, one run, and zero earned runs in five innings of play.
 
The two teams will run it back in another doubleheader at McBean on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for 11 am.
   
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).