REDDING, Calif. – Jessup Softball (13-15, 6-5) headed up to Redding for one final round of non-conference games and another doubleheader against the Simpson Red Hawks (14-12, 4-0). Overall, the day ended in a split with (RV) Simpson taking game one, then the (RV) Warriors winning the second tilt.
 
Head coach Brie Campbell shared her thoughts after the game, noting, "It was a long day of softball, which is exactly what we expected against a good team like Simpson." Campbell went on to say, "Our bats were a little late in game one, but in game two, we were able to get it going early."
 
Campbell ended by expressing her gratitude for her team, saying, "I'm proud of the team as a whole to fight till the finish and secure a win against the Red Hawks." 
 
Things remained scoreless through two innings of play in game one until the Red Hawks hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. The Warriors then got to work in the fourth inning, plating their first run off an RBI base hit from Mehana Johns that scored Seli Aholelei. Later in the inning, Liana Castro grounded out, but it was a productive out nonetheless as Kaela Hangebrauck scored, tying the game at 2-2.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Warriors were able to take a one-run lead off the bat of Johns. The lead was soon relinquished as the Red Hawks hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, sending game one to extra innings.
 
In the eighth inning, Hangebrauck recorded a timely base hit that scored Natalie Basaldua. Moments later, it was Castra who worked the safety-squeeze to perfection, allowing Hangebrauck to score. The Warriors were able to score three runs in the eighth, but it wasn't enough as Simpson came back scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning to 7-6 off a sac-fly.
 
Building off their finish to game one, the Red Hawks came out of the gate with a 3-0 lead through one inning. Basaldua showed her smarts on the base path in the top of the second as she made it to third off Hangebrauck's double, then promptly scored as the ball was thrown to second. Shortly after that, Castro again delivered for Jessup, blasting a two-run homer over the fence, and the Warriors led 4-3.
 
One batter later, Kayla Altheide hit a solo home run, pushing Jessup's lead to two.
 
Jessup got the lead extended with a pair of insurance runs in the third and fourth innings, but Simpson wasn't going down quietly as they pushed two more runs across the plate in the fifth. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, the Red Hawks tied the game at 6-6.
 
For the second time, these two teams headed to extra innings. Each team made terrific defensive plays through the seventh and eighth innings, with the game still locked in a 6-6 tie. Then in the ninth, the Warriors were able to bring Maddy Melo across the plate to take the lead, and they held on for the win, 7-6.
 
The (RV) Warriors will return home to host the (RV) Vanguard Lions for a four-game series beginning on April 9 at 2 p.m.. Those games can be live-streamed HERE.
   
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).