IRVINE, Calif. – Entering Tuesday, the mindset for the Warriors was fairly simple, you either win, or you are going home. The Warriors have made a habit this season of cashing in during high-pressure situations, and in a moment with the pressure at its highest, it was a freshman who cemented his name in Jessup history.
 
"I'm really proud of our guys and the competitive spirit and heart they showed today," said head coach Trevor Paine. "I'll remember that last inning forever and how many individual contributions it took to pull that off. We survived today, and now we need to get focused and start looking towards tomorrow."
 
Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, it would have been easy to write the Warriors off. Jessup had just two hits in the ballgame at that point and had scored just one run in their last 17 innings.
 
But then the rally started. The Warriors loaded the bases with nobody out, and Paine went to Connor Franco off the bench. Franco delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Nicholas Hadd. A batter later, Kayde Iranon made it a one-run game with an RBI single to plate pitcher James Courshon who had come on to pinch run.
 
With two out, Jaisten Cabatbat delivered an RBI single to right, scoring Noah Takayama to tie the game. Then came up Landon Weiss, who was 0-for-2 entering the at-bat. Weiss worked the count before driving a ball into right field, scoring Iranon from second in a walk-off moment Jessup fans will never forget.
 
The four runs, all unearned, were charged to Spencer Long, who had been masterful until the ninth. Long tossed 8.2 innings before the Mustangs finally went to the bullpen.
 
Starting the game for the Warriors was left-hander Max Moreno. Moreno started off hot, striking out the first two batters looking. He ultimately surrendered two runs on four hits over five innings of work. He struck out five.
 
Marlin Brucato earns the win after a four-inning relief stint. Brucato kept the Warriors in the game with his pitching and his glove, as he made a highlight-reel play in the seventh in which he snagged a line drive back to the mound and then threw out the runner at first for an inning-ending double play.
 
With the win, the Warriors advance to Wednesday, where they will take on the loser of tonight's game between Westmont and Vanguard. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
All games remaining for the Warriors will be elimination contests in the double-elimination bracket in the GSAC Tournament.
   
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).