LINCOLN, Calif. – (RV) Jessup Softball (14-18, 7-8) took the field for day two of a double-header to wrap up their four-game series against the (RV) Vanguard University Lions (18-8, 8-4), ending the day in a split. The Warriors held on to win an epic defensive battle in game one, but runs were difficult to come by again in game two as the Lions won it to take the series, 3-1.
 
Head coach Brie Campbell noted her teams' great play on defense paired with clutch hitting in game one. "Our defense was solid in game one, and Seli was outstanding in the circle for us. We had timely hits from our hitters in that game, and Hailey Hiett came up huge with the game-winning RBI."
 
Starting in the circle in game one for the Warriors was Seli Aholelei, and she came out on a mission. Aholelei opened things up by retiring the first six batters she faced. Meanwhile, it was a struggle getting on base for the Warriors as well, with only one hit through two innings.
 
Things got dicey in the top of the third as the Lions got their first base hit, followed by a pair of walked batters to load the bases with no outs. Fortunately for the Warriors, Aholelei locked in, getting the following three batters out in unison, keeping the Lions tamed.
 
Mehana Johns got the bottom of the third started with a lead-off single, then advanced to second off an Amanda Mero groundout. Shay Trent then had a productive out as she was successful in moving Johns to third base. Following a Liana Castro walk, with two outs, Hailey Hiett recorded the game's only RBI getting on base with a single, scoring Johns.
 
The Warrior defense remained dialed-in as they did their part, with Aholelei leading the charge in the circle. In the top of the sixth, the Lions sought to come back and had a hard-hit ball, but Sam Lorge lunged to her left for the snag preventing the hit.
 
Despite the Lions getting a two-out double in the top of the seventh, the Warriors were able to hang on and pull out the nail-biting win, 1-0.
 
Game two started with a different tune as the Lions came roaring out of the gate with five runs crossing the plate in the first inning. The Warriors struggled to get anyone on base, with the first eight Jessup batters all getting out before Terra Goetz singled up the middle.
 
Campbell went on to refer to the uphill climb they faced in the first inning, "In game two, Vanguard put up a big first inning which was hard to bounce back from. Our girls battled today and got a much-needed split to stay in the GSAC race."
 
The Warriors got their next and only other base hit in the bottom of the sixth. Castro and Maddy Melo each were walked, and Aholelei took advantage with a single up the middle to plate the lone run for the Warriors in game two as they went on to lose 7-1.
 
Jessup Softball will return to action on Friday, April 16 at 2 P.M. as they hit the road to take on No. 9 Hope International University.
   
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).