LA MIRADA, Calif. – The first lost series of the season is in the books for Jessup Baseball following two losses in La Mirada on Saturday. The Warriors rallied late in game one, but ultimately the day went the way of Biola, who have the Warriors returning home with an 8-3 record.
Jessup now sits 5-3 in their first PacWest season. The Warriors claimed the first game of the series yesterday, but Biola bounced back to take the next three.
The home run ball was the story of game one, as the Warriors launched five into the Southern California skies. The first came off the bat of
Kayde Iranon, a solo shot in the second inning that leveled the score at one.
Koby Williams then followed it up with a two-run shot in the same inning to put Jessup on top. The third home run of the inning came via
Tony Otis, a two-run blast that padded Jessup's lead to 5-1.
Cole Hazel would add a solo home run in the sixth that provided a needed insurance run because it set the score to 7-5 at the time.
Biola then had their big inning, plating six in the sixth, followed by a run in the seventh to pull ahead by five. But the Warriors would not quit, as
Nick Poss carried his hot bat from Friday into Saturday, blasting an eighth-inning grand slam to cut the score to 12-11. Then, with two down in the top of the ninth,
Jack Grant delivered an RBI single to keep the game alive.
But back came Biola, who would load the bases in the bottom half, placing closer
Nolan Thebiay in a precarious situation. On an inside pitch, Thebiay hit Biola's Landon Caruso, ultimately plating the winning run and ending the game.
Right-hander
Diego Chavez started Saturday's opener and took a no-decision after five innings of work. The Warriors used five pitchers in relief.
Now, on to the series finale, eyes were on a split as Jessup sent
Tyler Moore to the hill. Moore lasted only two innings before head coach
Trevor Paine went to
Loren Iwata out of the bullpen to log the final four frames in relief.
Biola put up two runs in the first and four in the second, and those would be enough to take the series finale as Jessup could only muster up three in the game. Those would come on a two-run single from Grant and an RBI single from Hazel.
The Warriors' schedule will see them continue on the road next week, as they are six games into a ten-game road stint. Up next is a trip to Hawaii, as Jessup will play four games in Hilo against the Vulcans of Hawaii Hilo. The series will begin on Friday, February 28, with first pitch being scheduled for 5 p.m. (PST).
***
Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. 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 (Instagram & X).
