ATHERTON, Calif. – The final series of the regular season got underway Friday as the Warriors made the trip to the Bay Area to take on Menlo College. Needing to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Jessup put up a scoring barrage to put themselves in a prime spot to clinch a postseason spot on Saturday.
 
On top of winning two on Friday, Jessup also got help to start the day as OUAZ lost their opener to San Diego Christian. Jessup now lead the Spirit by 2.5 games for the final seat in the GSAC Tournament, entering the final day of the season.
 
Head coach Trevor Paine noted that the Warriors need to take care of their own business and worry about a potential postseason bid later. "We just need to come out tomorrow ready to win a series with the same intensity we showed today."
 
A trip to OC Great Park and postseason baseball can be clinched by either one Jessup victory or one OUAZ loss.
 
Game one on Friday got started on the right foot as Nicholas Hadd drove in two with a first-inning double. Jessup added three more in the second to power ahead by five.
 
Starting the opener was Christian Winston, and the left-hander saved his best stuff for his final regular-season outing. Winston tossed six shutout innings, surrendering just two hits while striking out eight. His efforts earned him his first winning decision with the Warriors.
 
"Winston was very good again," said Paine. Winston was coming off of his best outing of the season two weeks ago against Vanguard. "His stuff was very sharp, and he was able to make some big pitches when he needed to."
 
Jorge Perez got his lone hit of game one in the fifth as his bases-clearing triple put the Warriors ahead 9-0. Perez's day, however, was only getting started.
 
Menlo got to Jessup's bullpen for five runs in the late innings, but the scoring efforts of Jessup's offense was enough to pick up a 9-5 victory.
 
Scoring in game two started off the same bat that ended Jessup's game one scoring, Perez. The third baseman hit a towering two-run homer in the first inning that landed deep in the trees behind Cartan Field. Perez ended up going 3-for-4 in game two, adding a single and a double to give him the cycle on the day.
 
Having another big day at the dish was Jaisten Cabatbat. Jessup's shortstop cleared the bases with a three-run double in the first. He then left the yard in the fourth with a solo blast.
 
Jessup put up a five-spot in both the first and third innings as they powered their way to an 11-5 win. Danny Chavez moved to 5-2 on the year after five innings of work.
 
The regular-season finale is next up as the Warriors will look to get the win needed to secure the program's third trip to the GSAC Tournament. First pitch of both the Jessup game and the OUAZ contest in Arizona are scheduled for 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).