SURPRISE, Ariz. – While it feels like the season just began, conference baseball is already here as the Warriors visited OUAZ in Surprise. Led by a masterful performance on the mound, Jessup took game one of the day but ultimately had to settle for a split.
 
Getting the ball for Friday's opener was Jessup's ace Danny Chavez. Coming off one of his best performances with Jessup just a week ago, Chavez outdid himself as he pushed his record to 2-0.
 
Chavez went 7 innings on Friday, tossing a shutout while striking out a career-high 11 batters.
 
It helped that Chavez had run support before he ever stepped on the bump, as Kawaiola Takemura drove in two with a first-inning triple before scoring on a Jorge Perez groundout. Takemura went 3-for-4 in game one with four RBI.
 
Jessup tacked on two more in the fourth and then put the game out of reach with a three-run seventh. OUAZ's only runs of the 10-2 ballgame came on a home run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Rhys De Highden contributed two RBI in game one as he ended up going 0-for-1 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Logan Coe and Nicholas Hadd each contributed two hits and two runs.
 
Game two again saw an outstanding performance from a starting pitcher, but it, unfortunately, came from OUAZ's Gage Johnson. Johnson was one out away from a complete game, tossing 6.2 innings of shutout baseball while allowing 2 hits and striking out 7 batters.
 
Jessup's two hits came courtesy of Hadd and Dustin McElwain, but the Warriors were unable to push a run across as the Spirit took the game 5-0.
 
The series wraps up tomorrow as the Warriors and Spirit change sites to Peoria, AZ. It'll be an early start for fans back home as first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PST).
 
There will be no live stream available for Saturday's game. Live stats will be available online 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 & Instagram).