FULLERTON, Calif. –  With one final series on the schedule, Jessup Softball (19-19, 12-9 GSAC) headed to Fullerton to face off with the No. 8 Royals of Hope International University (25-7, 16-6 GSAC). Game one was a defensive battle that favored the Warriors, and in the second tilt, runs were aplenty with Jessup getting the job done yet again.
 
Initially, the Royals controlled game one early as they were first on the board with a run scored in the bottom of the first.
 
An early trend for the Warriors in game one was stranding runners in scoring position. For the third straight inning Thursday, the Warriors got a runner on second to start the frame. Sam Lorge notched a base hit then advanced upon Seli Aholelei being walked. However, the Royals' defense continued to buckle down and kept the Warriors scoreless.
 
Late in the fifth inning, with two outs and a runner again on second, the Warriors knew their chances were running slim. Natalie Basaldua delivered by sending a two-run bomb over the left-field fence to take the lead. Meanwhile, Aholelei and company were getting the job done on defense.
 
Despite allowing a run in the first inning, the Warrior defense buckled down to keep the Royals off the board for the final six innings of the game. The shutdown efforts to wrap things up resulted in the Warriors winning game one by a slim margin, 2-1.
 
After two scoreless innings in game two, the Warriors burst out with five runs in the third. Jessup's first run came off an RBI triple from Hailey Hiett, and Hiett then proceeded to score off an errant throw by the Royals.
 
Working with a two-run lead, the bats stayed hot as a trio of hits ultimately extended the lead, 5-0 in favor of Jessup. The Royals weren't going quietly as they connected on a three-run homer to climb right back in the mix.
 
Two innings later in the fifth, the Warriors added another run off an RBI base hit from Mehana Johns. The Royals quickly responded with a two-run home run as they inched closer, trimming Jessup's lead to one.
 
Leading 6-5 in the sixth, insurance runs were a must for the Warriors, and that's exactly what they got courtesy of the long ball. Leading off, Kayla Altheide hit a solo shot that was quickly followed by another solo blast coming off the bat of Aholelei.
 
Keeping momentum alive, it was another inning full of action, and Lorge delivered a hard-hit ball to left-center, adding two more runs to the Jessup total.
 
After HIU plated a run in the seventh, Aholelei came in to pitch, and upon walking the first batter she faced, the bases were loaded with the tying run at the plate. The Royals' momentum soon faded as Aholelei proceeded to get the next two batters out in unison to end the game, completing the day one sweep. 
 
These teams will run it back tomorrow with another doubleheader beginning at noon to conclude the regular season.
   
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).