CHICO, Calif. – Jessup baseball (2-1) took their show on the road to the historic Nettleton Stadium for a Saturday doubleheader against Chico State Saturday afternoon.
One day after a dominant season-opening victory at McBean Park that saw the Warriors win 9-1, the team continued the three-game series at Chico. In the pair of tightly contested battles against the CCAA powerhouse, the Warriors showcased a resilient spirit, battling through every inning in two games that were ultimately decided by the narrowest of margins.
Game One, 3-2
The opener of the twin bill was a classic pitcher's duel that saw Jessup jump out to an early lead. In the third inning, Hunter Hirayama sparked a rally, eventually crossing the plate on a wild pitch to give the Warriors a 1-0 advantage. However, the Wildcats responded in the middle frames, manufacturing runs in the sixth and seventh to take a 2-1 lead. Jessup refused to go quietly, as Rane Miller sparked an eighth-inning surge, eventually scoring on a clutch RBI single from Gabe Harris to knot the game at 2-2. The tension peaked in extra innings, but it was Chico State who found the final heroics, using a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the tenth to walk off with a 3-2 victory.
Game Two, 8-4
The series finale saw the Warrior bats come alive as they looked to salvage the split on the road and win the series against Chico. Jessup's offense relentlessly pressured the Wildcat pitching staff, building a lead through disciplined plate appearances and timely hitting. Though the home team struck first in the opening frame, it was the Warriors who took control early and never surrendered. Down by one in the second inning, Hunter Hirayama smashed his first home run of the season to tie the game at one apiece. Jessup worked the Wildcats in the early innings with strategic execution to take and extend their lead. A sacrifice fly out from Tony Otis, Adam Reyes crossing the plate on a wild pitch and yet another sacrifice fly from Justin Tsukada allowed a three run lead for the Warriors.
Chico answered back in the third to come within one from a triple and RBI ground out. But Hirayama continued his successful day at the plate with a double to left to score Tsuka. Cody Antone continued his offensive success with a RBI sacrifice fly to put his team up three. Otis did the same as he tripled down the left field line to score two and pad the already impressive Jessup advantage after the seventh inning stretch. The Wildcats tallied one final run in the seventh frame but the lead proved to be insurmountable as the Warriors secured the final game, 8-4.
Antone and Quinton Hall continued their strong starts to the season, providing the veteran leadership necessary to keep the dugout focused after the narrow loss earlier in the day. The bullpen remained a steadying force, shutting down a late Wildcat threat to keep their opposition out of reach most of the game.
With the first weekend of the 2026 season now in the books, the Warriors move to 2-1 on the young campaign. Head coach Trevor Paine's squad will now look toward a lengthy home stand at McBean Park, returning to Lincoln to host a four-game series against Vanguard University starting February 13.
