COLUMBUS, Ga. – Three teams remain at the NAIA Softball World Series after one of the most exciting days of softball in program history. With the Warriors facing their final strike of the season, a heroic moment stole the show as Jessup then went on to sweep the day.
Jessup is now 43-11 on the season and is one of three teams remaining in the postseason.
The day began with the Warriors taking on the Madonna Crusaders as Jessup hit the field for their first elimination game of the World Series. The game was originally scheduled for 4 p.m. (EST) on Monday, but multiple lightning delays forced the NAIA to postpone Monday's action to Tuesday.
Senior
Katie Blankenheim got the ball with the season on the line, and in vintage fashion, Blankenheim responded with her 15th complete game of the season. Blankenheim allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three.
Madonna struck first in the top of the first, but the Warriors responded in the bottom half as
Sam Lorge drove in
Maddy Ybarra on an RBI single. Three scoreless frames then followed before Madonna tacked on two in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
The 3-1 advantage held until the bottom of the seventh, as Jessup sat three outs away from their season-ending. A rally began with a one-out single from
Madisyn Leffle, and then, with two away in the inning,
Sarah Giles kept the line moving with a single up the middle. That brought up
Sam Lorge, who is no stranger to walk-off home runs in the postseason, as she did just that two years ago in the NAIA Opening Round in Klamath Falls.
On a two-strike pitch, Lorge launched one to left field, which won the game and kept the Warriors' season alive.
Head coach
Brie Campbell spoke about Jessup's fight in the last inning when she spoke at the end of the day. "I think, for us, that last inning alone in game one is what motivated us to keep fighting. We all talked about it. This is emotional because we don't want the season to end. It does not necessarily have to do with the seniors, but this has been an amazing opportunity for us, and we enjoy playing with each other so much."
The walk-off blast then sent Jessup into Game 16 of the World Series, where they would battle the Owls of Oregon Tech.
Two early runs by the Owls again had Jessup in a hole, but the big blast came in the third when Ybarra blasted a two run shot to center to even the scoring at two.
Kaylee Winn would later give Jessup the lead on an RBI single in the sixth, and an insurance run came in the seventh when Ybarra tripled to left-center, plating Leffle.
Oregon Tech put the tying run on in the seventh, but Jessup held on tight for the 4-3 win.
Sophomore
Bella MacFarlane earns the win in the nightcap after logging five innings in relief. It was the first time MacFarlane was tasked to throw more than two innings since February 23 against Simpson.
On MacFarlane's outing, Campbell added, "Today proved that (Bella) is willing to bear down. We had a couple of ups and downs, and she made adjustments, and her defense worked to get us through the game."
Jessup will now look for redemption, as they are scheduled to take on Science and Arts tomorrow at 2 p.m. (EST). Science and Arts is the lone team to beat Jessup in the World Series, a 5-4 game on Saturday.
"That was an electric game," added Campbell on seeing Science and Arts again. "I think that loss was the best loss we've had all season. It was an amazing game and an amazing opportunity to play a great team. We're excited to see them again and continue to fight."
Fans can watch the remaining action from Columbus live on
ESPN 3.
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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).
