LINCOLN, Calif. – After a tough day at the ballpark on Friday, the Warriors returned to McBean Park on Saturday with new energy, looking to split with the No. 10 ranked Hope International Royals. Jessup walked off a winner in game two after a game one route, picking up two needed wins.
 
On the split with the No. 10 ranked team in the nation, Head Coach Trevor Paine said he hopes it "builds some confidence for our guys. I thought we played with them all series, and I know when we're playing our best, we're fully capable of being a top-25 ranked team."
 
Similar to game two yesterday, HIU started game one on Saturday with a solo home run. Brennan McKenzie of the Royals would launch solo shots in his first two at-bats to give his side early runs.
 
The Warriors would get on the board in the fourth, as in Kawaiola Takemura's at-bat, a run would score on a wild pitch before Takemura drove in a second run with a single to center. Takemura would add his second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly that put Jessup ahead 3-2.
 
Jessup tacked on another run in the sixth, an RBI single by Kevin Jordan Jr. Insurance runs would be added in the seventh as the Warriors plated three. Jessup would plate three more in the eighth, with the final blow being the first Jessup home run by Jaisten Cabatbat, setting the score at 10-2.
 
Cabatbat was making his first appearance in the Jessup lineup since February 20 at The Master's University.
 
On the hill in game one was Brad Jones. Jones produced his longest outing of the season, picking up the win after six innings of work. Earning the three-inning save was Marlin Brucato, who pitched three hitless innings of relief work.
 
Game two saw more masterful pitching by the Warriors, as Ricardo Torres Jr. lasted 6.2 innings before handing the ball over to Jordan Yu. The outing was the longest of the season for Torres as well.
 
Paine loved what he saw out of his pitchers Saturday, stating, "Brad was really good in game one, and then Ricardo to give us 6.2 was awesome. Anytime you can get that quality and those amount of innings, it makes things a lot easier. It helps the bullpen out. Really happy with the way we pitched all weekend, especially today."
 
HIU got out to an early 2-0 lead, plating runs on a pair of RBI singles in both the second and third innings. After a third-inning solo home run by Takemura, his first of the season, Jessup would tie the game as Yu singled down the left field line to plate Jordan Jr.
 
Yu would drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth, plating Takemura on a sacrifice fly.
 
Leading 3-2, Yu took the mound looking to get the final out and secure the win. McKenzie drove a ball to deep center on a two-strike count that would go for a double and send in the tying run.
 
Looking for a walk-off, Jessup got a runner in scoring position in Jordan Jr. HIU would intentionally walk Mike Shoenberger, putting two on with two outs as Jacob Gribbin stepped up to the plate. Entering the at-bat 0-for-15 on the year, Gribbin sent a 3-2 pitch down the line in left that was narrowly fair, driving in the winning run on a walk-off single.
 
Paine credited Gribbin's ability to battle in his at-bat, adding, "I figured they would try and stay with the fastball. He was on everything, spoiled a good two-strike fastball, and then eventually was on time for one and was able to sneak it inside the line.
 
"Really good at-bat. He did a good job of spoiling some pitches and then ultimately hitting the mistake."
 
Saturday pushes the Warriors to 15-11 on the season and .500 in conference play with a record of 6-6.
 
The season continues next week with a rare non-conference series against The Master's. Jessup will welcome The Mustangs to McBean Park Thursday and Friday, with first pitch on both days 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).