LINCOLN, Calif. - The Warriors hit the history books this weekend with a program first-ever tie for game three. The series concluded in a split with the OUAZ Spirit on a very unpredictable weekend as the storms made their presence known.
"I'm really proud of how the guys competed all weekend and how adaptable they were considering the weather and conditions," head coach
Trevor Paine said.
The series resumed Saturday after a day off due to storms all day Friday, resulting in a double-header to complete the competition. The Warriors shut down the Spirit in game one behind starter
Max Moreno, 7-3, before ending a 7-inning high in a tie (4-4) as the visiting OUAZ had to catch their flight home.
The first outing strung together a trio of runs behind
Brandon Springer, who knocked a two-run double and
Rhys De Highden was able to break one through the infield to bring in Springer for the 3-0 advantage after one inning.
Chris Cook tallied a solo shot over the leftfield wall to make it 4-0 early in the third before another pair of runs crossed with a hit coming from
Kayde Iranon with a two-run single up the middle (6-0). The final run reached on a sac-fly from
Kevin Gutierrez, bringing in
Dustin McElwain as the Warriors would be up 7-0 heading into the last inning.
The Spirit strung together three runs off reliever
Charlie Perkins before the final out was recorded to even the series at 1-1 in the 7-3 victory.
Moreno went six innings for the Warriors collecting his second win on the season, allowing no runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
"The energy was great all day, and it started with
Max Moreno giving us a great outing," commented Paine on the starters' appearance. "I was really happy with the pitching all day. They gave us a chance in both games, including
Preston Brook was great in game two, eating up most of the innings."
Caleb Markwith returned to the mound for the Warrior to start game two with a two-inning appearance before Brook took over with four innings, allowing just one run on three hits with five strikeouts.
The Spirit went ahead early in the top of the first, but in the next inning, the Warriors would respond as Iranon had another impactful outing in the box with a two-run homer to take the 2-1 lead.
The Warrior would add another pair of runs, one in the bottom of the fourth and another in the sixth, as pinch hitter
Nate Van Patten doubled to right center to make it 4-2. Then, in the final inning ahead of them, OUAZ hit a two-run home run to tie it up, and the Warriors could not answer back in the bottom of the frame to close out the series with a 4-4 tie.
Coach Paine commented on the offensive surge over the day, "We had some big swings in guys like Iranon, Cook, and Van Patten." But, he concluded, "We played good baseball and hope to carry it into next week."
Next week the Warriors continue their conference quest to take on the ACU Firestorm in Glendale, AZ, on Friday and Saturday.
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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).
