LINCOLN, Calif. - Jessup baseball (7-2, 5-1 PacWest) took the first two against the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans (3-7, 2-4 PacWest) in a double header conference meeting on Wednesday afternoon, 9-0 and 6-2.
On a cloudy and windy day at McBean Park in Lincoln, the Warriors flexed their strong offense early on yet again. The Jessup offense have made it a trend this season to suffocate their conference opponents in the first inning.
Game 1, 9-0
After a 1-2-3 opening frame from Diego Chavez on the hill, the Warriors bats went to work. Quinton Hall got the first hit of the day as he doubled down the right field line. A batter later, Tony Otis launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to start the scoring for Jessup, 2-0. The team would continue to plate runners from scoring position as catcher Matt Gonsalvez singled in Landyn Plaut, 3-0. Adam Reyes followed with an RBI single of his own to score Cole Hazel, 4-0. On a bunt single from Hunter Hirayama, Gonsalvez hustled home to put the team up five, 5-0. From an error, Reyes crossed home and capped the first inning scoring, 6-0.
On the bump, Chavez did not allow a hit until the sixth frame, struck out two and delivered 7.0 innings of efficient pitching. Insurance runs for his great performance continued in the second inning when Gonsalvez hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Otis, 7-0. More runs came from Hazel as he hit in a RBI in the fourth and brought home the final ninth run on a sacrifice fly to center, 9-0.
Tony Otis was the standout offensively as he went 4-5, scored four times, knocked in two RBIs and hit a long ball. Reyes collected a pair of hits to go 2-4, recorded an RBI and scored once. Hazel and Gonsalvez each earned two RBI with Hirayama collecting an RBI. Chavez earned the win as Caleb Markwith came in for the final two frames to provide a strikeout.
Game Two, 6-2
Jessup would follow a similar pattern as they scored first in game two. Justin Tsukada singled to the right side to put the first Warriors runner on. Hall doubled him in later in the frame to tally the first Jessup run, 1-0. It was a pitchers duel for most of game two as Jordan Cezar provided the home side another quality start. In the bottom of the third, Tsukada got the offense going once again. In a déjà vu moment, Tsukada reached from a double down the line and Hall knocked him in two batters later, 2-0.
Hawaii-Hilo scored their first runs of the day in the top of the fourth to tie the meeting, 2-2. The Warriors would immediately respond and take the lead back in the fourth inning. Off of an error, Reyes scored to put Jessup back up, 3-2. After a quiet fifth frame from both sides, Jessup looked to separate themselves late in the game.
In the sixth, the Warriors added three key insurance runs. Reyes reached from a single and was moved over from a successful Hirayama sacrifice bunt. PacWest Player of the Week, Jayden Montero walked to put two runners on for Cody Antone. The right fielder rocketed the ball over the left field wall for a no-doubt blast, 6-2. The tone was shifted from a one run game to up four going into the final frame. The blast cemented the Warriors second win of the day to defeat the Vulcans in both games.
Antone's late inning home run earned him three RBIs on the day from his one big hit. Tsukada went 2-4 and scored both times he reached to get the offensive moving. Hall took advantage of runners on as he collected two RBIs as he went 2-3. Cezar started and went 3.0 innings and struck out two. Joey Guarienti earned the win as he maneuvered well through the middle innings and also struck out two. Joey Miller closed out the game with his 2.0 frames pitched and earned the save.
Head Coach Trevor Paine praised his pitching staff and defense for shutting down the Hilo bats, "We pitched it well all day. We did a great job of getting ahead in counts and pitching to contact. Defensively we were outstanding and when we are pitching to contact you have to play good defense. Diego and Caleb were both really good in game one."
When asked about how to carry momentum into the next day, Paine said, "We just need to play good baseball and control what we can control. Despite the weather conditions, the team showed up and played hard. We need to bring that same energy into tomorrow's games."
The Warriors will continue and conclude their four game series against Hawaii Hilo on February 19th for a doubleheader matchup at 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM at McBean Park.
***
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).
