HAYWARD, Calif. – A new name sits at the top of the home run chart for Jessup Softball, as senior
Sarah Giles made history on Friday in her hometown. With the Warriors taking a short hiatus from PacWest action, Jessup dropped both bouts against Cal State East Bay on a day that will be remembered for more than the outcomes.
Giles, who is in her third season with the Warriors, blasted the 33rd home run of her Jessup career in the fourth inning of game one. The home run is her seventh of the season, and it puts her number one in program history for career home runs. The record was held by
Sam Lorge, who had broken the previous mark during Jessup's World Series run a season ago.
Jessup's first baseman picked the perfect place to break the record, as the Hayward native was competing in her hometown for the first time with the Warriors.
Giles ended the game going 2-for-2 at the plate. Her two hits were the only ones registered by the Warriors in a 9-1 loss, ending after five innings.
The Warriors got into another bind in game two as East Bay took a 6-0 lead in the fifth, and with the bases loaded, the Pioneers had a chance to end the game early once again. But Jessup had other plans as they escaped the jam and lived to fight another inning.
Jessup took advantage of their new life in the sixth with runs off a
Liliana DeAnda fielder's choice, and an
Aaliyah Pineda sacrifice fly. The rally extended in the seventh with DeAnda plating two more with a double to left field, but that would be all in a 6-4 loss.
East Bay, who came into the day ranked No. 15 in the nation, are now 19-2 on the season. The Warriors move to 9-13.
Jessup will get back to PacWest action tomorrow when they travel to Atherton to take on Menlo. The noon doubleheader will bring to an end the Warriors' 11-game road trip, as they will be back at Foskett Regional Park next weekend to host Chaminade.
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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).
