COSTA MESA, Calif. – Continuing what is arguably the most challenging schedule in the nation, the Warriors hit the field to face their eighth nationally-ranked opponent of the year in the No. 10 ranked Vanguard Lions. Jessup's bats were red hot in both games Friday, as they end the day with a Friday sweep.
 
An excited Head Coach Brie Campbell credited her team postgame, stating, "We couldn't do it without the heart of this team, they're hungry for more and ready to continue to compete against the toped ranked teams in the country, we have a lot to do in another pair tomorrow."
 
After the Lions took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning of game one, Jessup denied them the shutdown inning when Natalie Basaldua singled up the middle to drive in Sam Lorge.
 
The Lions looks poised to retake the lead in the fifth, loading the bases with nobody out, but pitcher Terra Goetz was calm under pressure, getting out of the inning without a single run scoring. Jessup's defensive performance created momentum on the offensive end.
 
Jessup took their first lead of the game in the sixth as Kaela Hangebrauck drove in two with a single up the middle. Hangebrauck would slide headfirst into home a batter later as Mehana Johns drove her in with a sac-fly to make it 4-1.
 
Vanguard trimmed the lead to two with a run in the sixth, but the Warriors got insurance in the seventh as Seli Aholelei tripled down the line in left, driving in Hailey Hiett. The RBI triple set the score at the eventual final of 5-2.
 
Goetz tossed a complete game in the opener, allowing the two runs on nine hits, walking just one batter in the process.
 
Campbell credited the poise of her pitchers Saturday, adding, "Today we went back to square one and just played ball. Our pitchers held down the circle with confidence, and our bats progressed with what we've been working on in practice.
 
Momentum carried into game two, as after the Lions once again went ahead 1-0, Jessup evened the game on an RBI triple by Amanda Mero. The next batter, Hiett, hit a triple of her own to drive in Mero. A throwing error on the play allowed Hiett to make it home, putting WJU ahead 3-1.
 
Jessup tacked on two more in the third, as Basaldua and Liana Castro each had RBI singles. After Aholelei hit her second triple of the day, Hangebrauck added an RBI single in the fourth to push Jessup's lead up to 6-1.
 
The Warriors' three triples in game two Friday tie the program record for most in a single game (prev. February 8, 2019, vs. Notre Dame de Namur).
 
Looking to add more insurance runs, the Warriors scored in their fourth consecutive inning as Hiett drove in Maddy Melo with an RBI groundout, and Shay Trent drove in Mero with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Vanguard would plate two in the fifth, but that would be all as the Warriors won the game 8-3.
 
Earning her fourth win of the season was Katie Blankenheim. Blankenheim lasted six innings before handing the ball to Goetz for the seventh.
 
On the basepath Friday, Jessup stole seven bases. Campbell issued a lot of the credit to third base coach Ryan Stevens after the game, saying, "The girls trusted their coach in Ryan and challenged themselves on the base path to put themselves in scoring position and pressure the defense."
 
Friday's victories improve Jessup's record to 8-13 on the season. The Warriors have their first conference wins of the year as they now sit at 2-4.
 
The Warriors and Lions will be back on the field tomorrow in Costa Mesa, as Jessup will look to make it a four-game sweep after another doubleheader. Game time for the first of Saturday's two contests is scheduled for 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).