YUBA, Calif. — On the final day of a grueling five-day stretch, the Warriors clinched their PacWest series against Azusa Pacific. Maddy Ybarra hammered two home runs in game one to tie the program's all-time record, fueling an 8-5 victory before Jessup secured the series win with a 7-4 triumph in game two.
With just two regular-season games remaining, Jessup sits in fourth place in the conference standings. The race for the postseason is heating up, as only the top four teams qualify for the PacWest tournament in early May. The Warriors currently trail conference foes Biola, Concordia, and Hawaii Hilo.
In a "must-win" series against the Cougars, the Warriors took two games on Tuesday following a split on Monday afternoon. The victories were a testament to the team's resilience; they were competing for the fifth consecutive day after being swept by Biola in a weekend series plagued by volatile weather.
"Playing five straight days takes a massive physical toll, but when you add in the constant battle with the elements, it becomes a psychological game," said head coach Brie Campbell. "We were dodging lightning, moving to different facilities, and trying to find our rhythm while the schedule shifted under our feet. We had to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and I think we found our identity in that chaos."
In the opener, Maddy Ybarra ignited the offense with a two-run home run to give Jessup an early lead. The senior went deep again in the fourth inning, extending the cushion to 7-1.
Those two blasts brought Ybarra's career total to 43 home runs, tying the all-time program record currently held by her former teammate, first baseman Sarah Giles.
The Warriors' bats stayed hot, eventually putting up eight runs. Though the Cougars attempted a comeback with four runs in the top of the sixth, Nohemi Livingston delivered "lights-out" pitching to shut the door and secure the win.
The Warriors had to come from behind in the series finale after APU used the long ball to take an early lead. Freshman Kaiya Miller and senior Neva Adams drove in two runs in the fourth inning to knot the score at 2-2.
Reagan Hoblit drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth, giving Jessup its first lead of the game. A four-run sixth inning provided necessary insurance, and while the Cougars managed two runs in their final at-bat, Evangelina Chavarria finished a complete-game performance to seal the victory.
"Taking three out of four from a program as competitive as Azusa Pacific, especially at the end of such a taxing week, is a huge statement for this team," Campbell added. "There were a lot of distractions that could have taken us away from the task at hand, but we came together and finished the five-day swing strong. I am proud of this team and looking forward to the final regular-season series next week!"
The Warriors have only two regular-season games remaining. They return home to Foskett Regional Park on April 25 to conclude their series against Dominican University. The day will also serve as Senior Day, honoring Maddy Ybarra, Kylie Nunes, and Neva Adams. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
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About Jessup University 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
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