LA MIRADA, Calif. – A late night in La Mirada produced an extra inning split on Tuesday, setting up a doubleheader on Wednesday to decide the series between Jessup and Biola. Aided by multiple big innings, Biola pulled off a Wednesday sweep, taking the series in the process.
One series into their PacWest tenure, the Warriors sit at 1-3. Overall, Jessup is now 7-10.
The Warriors' defense was on full display in the early going of game one. The first of many spectacular plays with the glove was made by Madiysn Leffle, as she used her famous speed to track down a third-inning line drive with a dive in right-center.
Hannah Aguilar later added two highlight reel plays at first base. The first came on a looping ball to Aguilar in the third. Aguilar dove to her right to make the catch before popping up to step on first for an unassisted double play. She then set up another double play by grabbing a line drive in the fifth and throwing out the runner attempting to tag up at second base.
Biola had their time to light up the highlight reel in the fourth, as they pushed across four runs, three coming on a home run to center field. Three more would score in the Eagles' half of the fifth, and with a potential eight-run lead sitting on second base, Aguilar's second double play ended that inning and guaranteed a sixth frame would be played.
It would be in the sixth where Jessup would crack the scoreboard, starting with two runs on a single to left field by
Sarah Giles. The third run would score after
Rebekah Beasley stole second, and the throw by the catcher went into center field, allowing
Maddy Ybarra to score from third.
Jessup finished game one with five hits. Two of those were doubles from
Neva Adams, who finished 2-for-3. Adams' second double ended with her being thrown out at third, looking to extend it to a triple.
Alexandria Himes took the loss after allowing seven runs on 11 hits across five innings.
Bella MacFarlane allowed one run in an inning of relief.
The finale of the series saw head coach
Brie Campbell look to
Jazlyn Villavicencio in the circle as the freshman was making her second career start. Her outing would be short-lived, as Villavicencio lasted just one inning, during which she allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits.
MacFarlane would pitch the next 4.1 in relief, allowing eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits.
Jessup took the first lead of the series finale when Giles plated Ybarra on a first-inning sacrifice fly. But then came the Biola run, as ten unanswered runs put the Warriors in jeopardy of the game ending after five innings.
Down to their final out,
Aaliyah Pineda answered with a two-run double to extend the game into the bottom of the fifth. The rally continued when
Reagann Hoblit added a two-run double of her own to cut Biola's lead to 10-5.
Biola was still determined to end the game early, as a run in the bottom of the fifth, followed by two in the sixth, brought to an end a 13-5 contest in six innings.
The Southern California road trip will continue this weekend with the Warriors starting the next chapter of their rivalry with Vanguard, as the two will play for the first time as PacWest foes. The series begins in Costa Mesa on Friday with a noon doubleheader and then wraps up with a single game on Saturday.
Jessup will continue on the road next week with doubleheaders at Cal State East Bay and Menlo.
***
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).
