By Beth Renkoski

03/19/09

Big Innings Lift Lions over No. 3 PLNU

Godfrey pitched 4.1 innings for VU

Akins had a 3-run home run to left

Costa Mesa, Calif. - Vanguard University exploded for back-to-back four-run innings to break open a GSAC baseball game against the NAIA third-ranked Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions. Playing on their home field for the third time already this week, the Lions ripped nine of their 10 hits in the game in the sixth and seventh innings to come from behind and defeat the Sea Lions 9-4.

Trailing 3-1 entering the sixth inning, the Lions roughed up PLNU reliever Brandon Dixon who had been stellar up to that point. Allowing no hits in the first three innings he pitched, Dixon gave up a one-out solo home run to Keegan Freeman and did not get out of the inning. Two singles and a walk followed Freeman's shot, loading the bases for yesterday's hero pinch-hitter Mike Anderson. Anderson delivered again, this time with a two-run single up the middle. He made the second out of the inning trying to advance on the throw home. Dixon walked Brett Halstead before he was relieved on the mound by Adam Herter. Herter was greeted with an RBI-single by pinch-hitter Mario Romero, before he could get out of the jam. Romero's infield knock was VU's third pinch-hit of the inning, as the Lions sent nine batters to the plate and regained the lead, 5-3.

Freeman laid down a bunt single with one out in the seventh and moved to second on a throwing error on the play. Jason Schaniel was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with only one out and cleanup hitter Nick Akins coming to the plate. Akins did his job with a three-run blast off the high net in left field to push Vanguard's lead to 8-3. That was enough for Herter, who handed the ball to Jason Swen, PLNU's fourth pitcher of the day. One out later, Anderson singled and scored on a two-out run-scoring double to right-center by Halstead to post VU's last run.

That would be more than enough for the Vanguard pitching staff to take care of the Sea Lions in the final two innings. Taking over for starter Brandon Godfrey in the middle of the fifth inning, Brian Lewis (1-1) earned his first win of the season with 3.2 innings of work. He allowed three hits and was touched for one run in the top of the ninth inning before being relieved by senior Chris Carls who recorded the final three outs for Vanguard. Godfrey, who received no decision, was charged with PLNU's first three runs. He pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out one batter. Carls struck out two of the five batters he faced, stranding two runners on base in the ninth.

Kenny Houser started on the hill for the Sea Lions, pitching two innings with no decision, and Kevin Soares, PLNU's fifth pitcher of the day, pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Dixon (3-3) was charged with the loss as Point Loma lost for only the third time in conference play. The Sea Lions, who had seven hits on the day, are now 19-6 overall and 13-3 in GSAC.

Freeman was 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs for the Lions. Akins and Anderson each added two key hits in both VU rallies as the trio accounted for all but two of VU's ten hits in the game.

Vanguard returns to GSAC action this Saturday when the Lions travel to Santa Clarita to take on The Master's College in an afternoon double header, beginning at noon.

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