IRVINE, Calif. – It took some time not only to know if the Warriors would be in the GSAC Tournament but who they would face once they were in. The dust has finally settled, and the postseason has begun, as Jessup took on the GSAC Co-Champions from Hope International on Monday.
 
Up against the Warriors was the man named GSAC Pitcher of the Year Monday morning, Hector Garcia. In Garcia's second appearance against Jessup this season, the right-hander held the Warriors to just one run and hit over 6.1 innings of work.
 
"I mean, I thought we played pretty well for most of the part," said head coach Trevor Paine on his team's performance. "We knew it was gonna be tough to score off Garcia."
 
The Warriors got their first run of the game in the sixth, an inning that saw them record their first hit of the game. Kawaiola Takemura split the gap in left-center to put two in scoring position. Jorge Perez then put Jessup on the board with an RBI single to right, plating the pinch-running Noah Takayama.
 
Hope International started their scoring in the first on a two-out double down the right-field line. A second run came in the last of the second thanks to a sacrifice fly.
 
Little complaints could be made about the low 70-degree temperatures and sunny skies at Irvine's OC Great Park. That was until the fourth, as what looked like a routine fly ball to right field was lost in the bright skies by Nicholas Hadd. A run would score on the play to make it 3-0.
 
Hope International added their fourth and fifth tallies of the day on a pair of solo home runs. A sixth run scored on Jessup's second error of the day.
 
Getting the nod on the mound Monday was right-hander Danny Chavez. Chavez worked deep in the game, which should bode well for Jessup's bullpen throughout the week. He lasted seven innings while allowing six runs (four earned) on ten hits.
 
"I thought Danny gave us a chance," added Paine on his starter, making what is expected to be his final collegiate start. "Things were kind of right there all day, one swing away for most of the game and then unraveled a little bit at the end."
 
James Courshon and Chase Marcoe combined to toss the final inning in relief of Chavez. When all was said and done, the Royals had won by a final of 8-1.
 
With the loss, Jessup is now in a win-or-go-home situation, as they will play for their season tomorrow morning against The Master's University. TMU lost 2-1 to Westmont College Monday Morning.
 
On tomorrow's game, Paine added, "We're gonna have to get efforts from a lot of different guys. I like our chances tomorrow. I think we haven't played our best ball yet. So just gotta wake up tomorrow and come out ready to play, and win tomorrow, and then you move."
 
Jessup won the season series with The Master's this season, three games to one. All four games took place on the road in Santa Clarita.
 
"We had a good series against them," concluded Paine. "We can go into it knowing we took three of four from them, and confidence plays a big factor in a game like tomorrow. So you just come out ready to try to win a ballgame."
 
First pitch in Tuesday's elimination game is scheduled for 10 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).