LINCOLN, Calif. – After dropping two to start a four-game set with Westmont College, the Warriors returned to the friendly confines of McBean Park with eyes on a split. Jessup put up a great fight in some late inning rallies, but it wasn't enough as they suffer the series sweep.
 
Westmont powered ahead in game one early on as a five-run barrage in the opening frame had Jessup in a bad spot right from the words "Play Ball!" Making matters worse, Westmont tacked on a run in the fourth, followed by a two-run homer in the fifth to power ahead 8-0.
 
Jessup finally woke up in the fifth as they rallied for three runs, thanks to a two-run double from Logan Coe, followed by a sac fly from Noah Takayama.
 
Joseph Hayden cut the deficit in half with an RBI single in the sixth. Hayden was back at it in the eight as he drove in two more with a single to center. Hayden went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored in game two.
 
The Warriors pushed across three in the eighth, as on top of Hayden's two-run single, Dustin McElwain also produced a run with a single through the right side.
 
Kristian Hernandez took his second loss of the season as Westmont won the ballgame, 9-7. Isaiah Rodriguez was a bright spot out of the bullpen as he logged 3 shutout innings while allowing just 2 hits.
 
Westmont again jumped ahead to an early lead in game two, plating two in the first and another in the second to go ahead 3-0. But just like game one, the Warriors were ready to rally.
 
Jessup took their first lead of the day in the third inning as they pushed across four runs. It started on a bloop single from Nick Kasparian, driving in a run. Jorge Perez added to the rally with an RBI single up the middle. The big blow then came off the bat of McElwain who's two run single scored Perez and Josh Rauterkus.
 
The lead was short lived, as with two out in the fourth, Westmont pieced together a five-run rally. The rally saw Westmont leave the yard twice on a pair of two-run homers to right. But once again the Warriors came back swinging, plating three in the bottom half thanks to an RBI walk by Nick Kasparian and a two-run single from Kevin Gutierrez.
 
Jessup tied the game in the fifth thanks to a sac fly from Jaisten Cabatbat. The score held at 8-8 until a two-out RBI single in the seventh by Westmont gave them the decisive 9-8 lead.
 
Starting the seven-inning game two was left-hander Max Moreno. Moreno was pulled after 3.2 innings of work in which he allowed 8 runs (6 earned) on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 4 walks.
 
Rodriguez again came in to pitch in game two. He took the loss after 2 innings of work. Chase Marcoe also logged 1.1 innings in relief.
 
Westmont continues to produce one of the best records in the NAIA at 22-2 overall, 11-1 in the GSAC. Jessup falls to 13-12 overall, 2-6 in conference play.
 
Jessup will be on the road next weekend as the GSAC season continues at Hope International University in Fullerton.
 
The Warriors will be back at McBean Park the weekend of March 18 – 19 as they take on San Diego Christian College in a four-game series. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased 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).