HILO, Hawaii – The Warriors bid aloha goodbye to Hawaii on Saturday, as their four-game set with the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans wrapped up with another doubleheader at Francis Wong Field. Jessup's bats did not cool off following a 13-run outburst on Friday night, as a 20-run day on Saturday led Jessup to two more wins and a series victory.
Jessup is now 11-4 on the season, moving to 8-4 in PacWest action.
Rudy Rodriguez was the star of the show in game one, as the senior from Elk Grove played a role in seven of the Warriors' 13 runs. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 at the dish, adding a pair of walks, a double, a run scored, and a season-high six RBI.
Rodriguez put Jessup on the board in the top of the first with a two-run single that plated
Tony Otis and
Drew Andrews. After a pair of second-inning groundouts added to Jessup's lead, Rodriguez returned to work in the third as his double scored one. He would add a two-run single in the fourth and then cash in on an easy RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
It wasn't just Rodriguez who had the bat working, as Jessup combined for six extra-base hits in the opener. Outside of Rodriguez's fourth-inning double, none of the extra baggers would see any runs score on the play until the eighth inning when
Nick Poss doubled home a pair.
Right-hander
Evan Williams was handed the ball to start Saturday's first game. The sophomore logged four innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He is credited with a no-decision.
Caleb Markwith takes the win in his home state after 1.1 innings in relief.
Tyler Lamperti followed Markwith's outing with one run allowed over three innings.
Eric Vasser recorded the final two outs without allowing a run.
Having taken games two and three of the series, the Warriors entered the finale with their eyes on a series win, as left-hander
Loren Iwata received the ball from head coach
Trevor Paine.
Iwata, a native of Keaau, compiled four innings during his first collegiate start in his home state. The freshman allowed just one run, walking one while striking out four.
The Warriors again put a run on the board in the first inning, this time off an RBI double from Kailua's
Kayde Iranon. The Hawaii natives were not done showing out in their home state, as the next inning saw fellow Kailua native
Cody Antone leave the yard on a three-run shot to put the Warriors on top 4-1.
Rodriguez picked up from game one in the third when his double to right-center drove home Iranon, making it 5-1. Rodriguez would later score on a wild pitch. Jessup would add to their lead in the fourth when
Drew Andrews drove home
Tony Otis on an RBI single.
Jessup's 7-1 lead suddenly tightened up as Hilo began to chip away with a four-run fifth inning. Paine looked to
Nolan Thebiay as the stopgap out of the bullpen, and Thebiay delivered with two innings in which he allowed two runs (one earned) while punching out four.
With two out in the seventh and the tying run on first, Paine again went to the bullpen, calling on
Joey Miller to shut the door. Miller proceeded to slam it, forcing a groundout to the only batter he saw to end the game and record his fourth save of the season.
The series victory in Hilo is Jessup's second of the PacWest season.
Jessup will travel back to the mainland on Sunday and will return to the diamond on Thursday as Menlo comes to McBean Park for a doubleheader. The series then shifts to Atherton for two games on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
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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).
