ROCKLIN, Calif. – It took two days, but the first conference doubleheader of the season has come to an end. After a cold and rainy day in Ripon 24 hours ago, Jessup got back on the diamond Friday, playing ten innings of near perfect softball that ultimately resulted in a split.
In town was the Firestorm of Arizona Christian. What the Firestorm forgot to bring with them was the sunny skies of Arizona, as rain hits Northern California this weekend. In hopes of escaping the rain, the series was moved to Thursday in Ripon and the turf fields of Mistlin Sports Park.
Three innings could not be finished before umpires called the game yesterday. At the stoppage, ACU led 6-1 thanks to a pair of home runs. Jessup had runners on the corners with two out, and
Aaliyah Pineda set to enter the batter's box.
But before that game could be put in the rearview mirror, a new game first had to start.
On short notice, both teams took advantage of a break in the weather Friday, hitting the field at Sierra College to resume the series. A decision was made to play a full game to start and then attempt to resume Thursday's rain out if daylight permitted.
The decision was a good one, as Jessup blasted home runs off the bats of
Sam Lorge and
Sarah Giles, leading the Warriors to a 5-1 victory.
Kaylee Winn also came up big, finishing 2-for-3 at the dish with an RBI. Pineda, who had yet to enter the box in the third inning of yesterday's game, added two RBI on a third-inning single.
Leading the Warriors in the circle was a vintage performance by
Katie Blankenheim. Looking like the Blankenheim of last season, the right-hander tossed her second complete game of the year, holding ACU to one run on two hits.
With a win in their pocket, it was on to yesterday's game. The mindset quickly changed as rather than the Warriors holding a comfortable lead, they instead needed to mount a comeback.
Bella MacFarlane kept her 0.00 ERA alive as she stepped into the circle to start the fourth. She replaced
Terra Goetz, who took the loss after six runs allowed yesterday. MacFarlane allowed just two hits over four innings in relief.
The Warriors pieced together a comeback bid in the final inning when Giles blasted her second homer of the day, a three-run shot that cut the score to 6-4. But that would be all as a game that lasted nearly 30 hours finally came to an end.
Now 1-1 within the GSAC, Jessup improves to 12-6 overall on the year.
The Warriors will look to beat the rain once again tomorrow as the second of the GSAC's two Arizona schools come to town. Jessup will take on the OUAZ Spirit, who are coming off two losses at the hand of Menlo College on Thursday.
Changes have been happening throughout Friday. With the forecast showing a chance of no rain in the morning, the game will be moved back to Rocklin rather than its initial location in Ripon. Tomorrow's game, scheduled for 10 a.m., will now take place at Whitney HS.
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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 Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
