LINCOLN, Calif. - In a dominant Saturday afternoon at McBean Park, Jessup secured a doubleheader sweep over Vanguard University to clinch the series and kick off PacWest play. The Warriors claimed victory in game one with a final score of 21-7 and took game two, 3-0. These wins move the Warriors to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
The Warriors combined for 24 runs across the two contests. Head coach Trevor Paine offered praise regarding today's offensive showcase: "Our guys work hard; they hit a lot and they are confident. The approach was good. Ryan and Kreighton put in a lot of time with those guys, so they are always prepared at the plate."
The first game was a high-scoring affair that saw Jessup overwhelm Vanguard 21-7, ending in mercy-rule fashion. The Warriors wasted no time, erupting for eight runs in the first inning and another eight in the third. Jessup held a commanding 18-1 lead heading into the fourth inning. Despite the deficit, Vanguard showed signs of life in the middle innings, but the early damage from Jessup's 14-hit barrage secured the win.
Freshman Jayden Montero commanded the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 in game one with three RBIs. Sophomore catcher Matt Gonsalvez collected four RBIs while going 2-for-3 on the day, alongside senior outfielder Quinton Hall, who also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. The game one rotation for the Warriors featured Eric Vasser (3 IP), Landon Rowland (3 IP), and Spencer Nelson (1 IP). Rowland collected the win for game one.
Game two starter, freshman Kai Hirayama, tossed a gem in a "one-hit wonder" performance to complete the Saturday sweep. The lefty pitched five innings, allowing only one hit to the Lions.
Paine commented on Hirayama's impressive performance: "I knew Kai would give us a good chance to win in game two. He's a confident pitcher. He doesn't carry himself like a freshman, and Brock has really helped him adjust to facing college hitters. He was fantastic, and I hope he builds off this outing."
Offensively, Adam Reyes got the scoring started for the Warriors in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI double. With runners on second and third, Justin Tsukada scored on a wild pitch to give Jessup a 2-0 lead. Cody Antone completed the effort with a single up the middle to score Reyes, providing what would be the final 3-0 margin.
Jessup will continue their home stretch as they host Hawaii Hilo on February 18th for a doubleheader matchup at 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM at McBean Park.
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About Jessup Athletics Jessup University is a 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).
