02/25/09
Josh Banker

Pavlisick Homer Lifts Concordia Over Lions

Costa Mesa, Calif. - Ninth-place hitter Sam Pavlisick had only one hit coming into Wednesday's GSAC game between the visiting Concordia Eagles and the Vanguard Lions, but the shortstop connected for a two-run, go-ahead homer in the top of the fifth that proved to be the game-winner in a 4-2 final in Costa Mesa.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fifth, Concordia catcher John Kennedy notched one of his two hits on the afternoon and after a failed sacrifice attempt led to the innings' first out, Pavlisick connected to left center off loser Richard Jessup to take the lead.

Jessup went 4.1 innings giving up six hits and three runs while striking out four and walking none to fall to 0-2 on the season. Long Beach State transfer Brandon Godfrey went the final 4.2 innings for the Lions (1-8, 0-6 GSAC) giving up just one unearned run on three hits.

The story of the day, however, may have just been Eagles' starter Michael Gonzalez who went 7.1 strong innings giving up just one earned run (two total) on three hits with five strikeouts and just one walk.

Vanguard did all of their damage early as left fielder Nicholas Akins made it 1-0 in the bottom of the first as he scored on a stolen base by pinch-runner Daniel Black.

The Lions made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second. Second baseman Keegan Freeman smacked the first of his two hits with one out and eventually scored an unearned run as Concordia second baseman Gregg Davidson committed an error attempting to turn a double play to try to end the inning.

Freeman and catcher Eric Krzysiak had two hits apiece for the Lions who left eight men on base on the afternoon.

Concordia (7-6, 4-5 GSAC) used an RBI groundout from Zach Barger to cut the lead in half in the top of fourth and then added an insurance run on an RBI single by Jeff Senters in the sixth.

Centerfielder Jacob Wood and Freeman both had one-out hits in the bottom of the ninth but Concordia's Dan Orlick struck out the next two hitters to shut the door and pick up his first save of the year.

The Lions return to the field on Saturday when they host GSAC-leading Azusa Pacific (15-2) in a conference doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. in Costa Mesa.