ATHERTON, Calif. – Jessup baseball (19-15, 15-13 PacWest) continued their road trip on Thursday with a doubleheader against the Menlo College Oaks (12-20, 10-19 PacWest). Behind strong pitching and steady, timely hitting in the early afternoon, the Warriors claimed game one 6-3, before a big second inning from the Oaks forced a doubleheader split with a 5-3 Menlo victory in game two.
Game 1: Jessup 6, Menlo 3
The Warriors took control early and methodically built a commanding lead in the opener. Jessup got on the board in the second inning when Landyn Plaut ripped an RBI double to right field, bringing home Tony Otis to make it 1-0.
Jessup's offense continued to grow their lead, adding a run in the fifth on an RBI single to left-center by Cody Antone, 2-0. The Warriors then blew the game open with a three-run sixth inning, highlighted by a run-scoring double from Adam Reyes and an RBI single from Colby Pudge, 5-0. Quinton Hall capped off the Warriors' offensive output with a solo home run down the left-field line in the top of the seventh, extending the lead to 6-0.
Loren Iwata was stellar on the mound, keeping Menlo scoreless through the first seven frames to pick up the win and improve his record to 3-1. Menlo attempted a late rally, plating two runs in the eighth and adding another run in the ninth, but Noah Souza came out of the bullpen to shut the door, securing his first save of the season and finalizing the 6-3 victory.
Game 2: Menlo 5, Jessup 3
Game two proved to be a tighter contest, with Menlo striking first on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, 1-0. Jessup responded immediately in the top of the second. After Reyes and Plaut reached base, Matt Gonsalvez lined an RBI single through the left side, followed shortly by an RBI single from Jayden Montero to give the Warriors a brief 2-1 advantage.
However, the Oaks answered back in the bottom half of the frame. Aided by an error and capitalized on by a two-run double, Menlo pushed three runs across to reclaim a 4-2 lead.
Menlo added an insurance run with a solo homer in the fifth, 5-2. The Warriors refused to go down without a fight, loading the bases in the top of the sixth and drawing a walk from pinch-hitter Jaron Nevarez to cut the deficit to 5-3. Despite a fantastic 3-for-4 showing at the plate from Plaut, Jessup ultimately stranded the tying runs on base as Menlo's bullpen held firm to hand Diego Chavez the loss.
The series will now return home as the Warriors welcome the Oaks to McBean Field on Saturday, April 4th. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 PM.Â
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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 www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
