KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Just by stepping onto the field Monday at Oregon Tech's Stilwell Stadium, Jessup Softball history was made as the Warriors made their NAIA Opening Round debut. Taking on the RedStorm of Rio Grande (Ohio), it took a big swing late in the game to seal the victory.
 
"It was a gritty win for us with a great competitor on the visiting side in Rio Grande," said GSAC Coach of the Year Brie Campbell. "This team grinds it out and competes. I'm excited to see them continue to improve as we continue on this quest."
 
Jessup looked to Katie Blankenheim in the circle for the fourth consecutive game. Going the distance for the 21st time this season, Blankenheim held the RedStorm to three runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out three.
 
Rio Grande started Monday's scoring in the top of the first on a single down the line that ticked off the third-base bag, scoring the runner from the second. But the potential for more damage was avoided as Jessup recorded the third out of the inning on a rundown between second and third.
 
Aaliyah Pineda tied the game in the second on a similar play down the third-base line, this time ruled an error. Natalie Nash scored on the play. Pineda later scored on Shay Trent's double down the line in right.
 
The second inning rally was not done, as the very next pitch after Trent's double was sent up the middle by Maddy Ybarra, scoring Trent to put the Warriors ahead 3-1.
 
A play that went unnoticed, as it happens quite often, was Ybarra's stolen base in the bottom of the second. It's stolen base number 35 for Ybarra this season, making her the new Jessup single-season record holder.  
 
The RedStorm got a run back in the third, negating a shutdown inning for Blankenheim, as a dropped popup behind first base allowed the run to come in. But that would be all in the inning as Rio Grande ended up stranding the tying run in scoring position.
 
The equalizing tally would later score in the fifth as an RBI single to left field knotted up the scoreboard at three.
 
No panic could be found by the squad sitting in the third-base dugout as Blankenheim dealt a one-two-three top of the sixth inning, giving the heart of the order for Jessup a chance to take the lead.
 
With one away in the last of the sixth, Sam Lorge sent a ball deep over the fence in left-center, sending her teammates into a frenzy as they mobbed her at home plate to celebrate the go-ahead run. Up 4-3, Jessup was just three outs away from victory.
 
A one-out double in the top of the seventh put the tying run in scoring position for the RedStorm once again, but a flyout to center quickly saw the game get to its final out. That third out, however, did not come easy, as a hard-hit ball that looked to be going for the gap was snagged by a diving Nash to win the game in style.
 
Campbell touched on the highlight plays late from her squad, adding, "Once we got the jitters out, we were able to find our groove battling to the finish. We had two breakthrough plays from Sam (Lorge) delivering one over the fence and the game-winning grab from Natalie (Nash) at shortstop."
 
The victory, Jessup's 37th of the season, sends them into the winner's bracket of the 2022 NAIA Softball Opening Round. The Warriors will play tomorrow at noon against the winner of the game currently going on between Cottey (Mo.) and Oregon Tech.  
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).