LINCOLN, Calif. – It was back to the 'Bean on Saturday, as Jessup looked to keep the bats hot after a 21-run, seven-home-run showing on Friday. After they needed to produce a comeback in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Warriors turned in another offensive onslaught to end the day as it's a third series sweep for Jessup Baseball.
The Warriors, who are now 13-1 when playing at McBean Park, put up 44 runs across three games. Jessup also hit 11 home runs, as they increased their team total to 44 on the season, which is the most in the NAIA.
Both teams made a statement to start the game, as the Oaks hit a leadoff home run, followed by a leadoff shot from
Quinton Hall in the bottom of the first to counter. Menlo then began to stimy the Warriors, as five straight scoreless innings had the Jessup bats going cold.
That scoreless drought was due in large part to a great outing by Menlo's starting pitcher, Nolan Rodriguez, who lasted just 4.2 innings but held Jessup to one run on five hits. The first pitcher out of the bullpen then struck out four of the first batters he faced.
But with the Oaks into the bullpen, Jessup finally got their chance in the seventh as an error allowed for two runs to score. That error then extended into a rally, as
Chris Lopez drove in a run with his RBI groundout, cutting it to 5-4.
Fielding mishaps again helped the Warriors in the eighth as another error allowed Jessup to tie the game. Then came
Trey Furrey, who drove a ball into the gap for a two-run double, giving the Warriors their 7-5 advantage.
Furrey ended the series going 9-for-12 at the dish with two home runs, a double, eight RBI, and seven runs scored. He is now batting .558.
Earning the win in relief was
Preston Brook, as the right-hander tossed three scoreless innings in which he allowed no base hits and struck out two.
Nolan Thebiay then slammed the door shut in the ninth, as his first save of the season saw him strike out the side.
Now, with a series won, Jessup turned to the series finale looking for a sweep.
Kayde Iranon started what would be a 16-3 rout with an RBI double in the first. He would later add a mammoth home run in the third, which set the score at 13-2.
Jessup hit three home runs in the finale, with Hall adding his second of the day in the third and Conner Culp hitting his second of the series in the sixth.
The Warriors put up crooked numbers in three consecutive innings, none bigger than the third in which they sent 11 batters to the plate and plated seven runs.
It wasn't just the hitting that shined in the finale, but also Jessup's pitching, starting with
Haliama Swartman, who got the win in his first start of the season Swartman tossed four innings in which he struck out six batters.
Now 14-3 overall, the Warriors will take a break from the GSAC next weekend as they host Bethesda for four games. The weekend of two doubleheaders begins on Friday at 11 a.m.
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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).
