By Beth Renkoski

02/12/09

Cougars Have Last Word Against Lions

Escondido, Calif. - Playing on the road for the second day in a row, the Vanguard Lions challenged the Cal State San Marcos Cougars for the second time in eight days. Defeating the Cougars 7-6 last week in Costa Mesa, the Lions lost today by an identical score in another nonconference game played at Escondido High School.

Senior right-hander Richard Jessup pitched the first five innings on the mound for the Lions and allowed four hits, including a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Walking two and striking out one Cougar, Jessup handed the ball over to Bryce Reid to begin the sixth inning trailing 1-0.

Reid lasted only four batters as he gave up a pair of home runs and a single, and was charged with three runs in CSUSM's four-run sixth inning. Brian Lewis relieved Reid and was credited with the final run of the inning.

Trailing 5-0, the Lions scored an unearned run in the seventh and eighth innings to cut the deficit to 5-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Lewis tossed a scoreless seventh inning before Shane Day took over on the hill in the bottom of the eighth, making his first appearance of the season. Day was greeted with a solo homer by catcher Steve Lemmon, but escaped the frame without further damage.

Needing just three outs to seal the victory, the Cougars opened the door for the Lions with three errors in the top of the ninth. Vanguard scored four runs without the aid of a hit. Scoring on a sacrifice fly, a hit batter, a fielder's choice, and an error, the Lions plated four unearned runs to tie the game 6-6 in their last at bats.

However, the Lions returned the favor in the bottom of the ninth as Day walked the first batter he faced. Moving the runner to second with a wild pitch, Day then intentionally walked the next batter. Following a pop up on the infield, the runners advanced a base on a balk by Day. Another intentionally walk loaded the bases with one out. Day struck out Austin Coleman for the second out, but he hit Josh Miller to plate the winning and game-ending run.

The Lions totaled four hits on the day and committed two errors on defense. Day, 0-1, took the loss on the mound as Vanguard slips to 1-2 overall. Senior shortstop Zach Leighton and designated hitter Brett Siegmund had a hit, an RBI, and a run scored in three official at bats to lead the Lion offense, while senior Ethan Gentry had an RBI and a run scored off the bench for Vanguard.

Vanguard leaves tomorrow for a Saturday double header at Fresno Pacific. If the weather holds, the Lions are scheduled to start game one at 11:00 a.m. in Fresno. Go Lions!

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