LINCOLN, Calif. – An odd ending to Thursday's ballgame started Jessup's four-game series with the UBC Thunderbirds on a sour note. Taking the field for game two, Jessup got back on track as they struck for big hit after big hit in a 10-5 victory.
 
"That's the great thing about baseball, there's always another game," said head coach Trevor Paine Friday. "It's great to get another win and put up a crooked number."
 
Jessup turned to their defacto ace for Friday's ballgame, handing the ball to Danny Chavez, who came in with a 2-0 record. Chavez makes it 3-0 now, after lasting 5 innings and allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks.
 
James Courshon was called on as the first man out of the bullpen, and the left delivered 2.2 innings and only one run to get the Warriors in prime winning contention.
 
"It was a really good outing for him," said Paine on Courshon's day. "He was throwing strikes and landing his secondary stuff. He was around the zone and is such a different look from Danny, so I knew it would be a good matchup for him. I was happy that he got himself back on the right track."
 
It looked at one point that Courshon might be giving up another run, as with two on and nobody out, a looping line drive was hit to shallow centerfield. Choosing to go for the ball rather than play it on a hop, centerfielder Kevin Gutierrez made an incredible diving catch, sprang to his feet, and threw out the runner trying to tag up at second.
 
"Kevin is as good of a defensive centerfielder you are going to see in our conference," said Paine. "(UBC) had some momentum going, but that killed their momentum with one play. It was high-level stuff."
 
Gutierrez had quite the day at the dish as well, finishing 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.
 
The Warriors struck for three runs in the second inning, two of which came on a double down the line in left from Logan Coe. Jessup got another big swing in the sixth when Paine called upon Joseph Hayden to pinch-hit. The slugging switch-hitter bashed the ball off the batter's eye in center, driving in three on a bases-clearing triple.
 
Jessup put seven runs on the board in the sixth inning Friday. Nicholas Hadd had an RBI single, and then Jorge Perez extended the rally with a two-run single into centerfield.
 
UBC made a short climb back into the ballgame, scoring two in the eighth and then putting two on with nobody out in the ninth. Chase Marcoe came in to record the final two outs and limit the damage as the Warriors even the series at a game apiece.
 
Jessup and UBC will be back on the diamond tomorrow as they wrap up the series with a doubleheader starting at 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 & Instagram).