By Beth Renkoski

04/01/09

Akins Goes Deep to Help Lions Rise to the Surface

Akins' 3-run shot put VU in the lead

VU 3rd Baseman Jason Schaniel

Ethan Gentry had a hit and 2 RBIs

Irvine, Calif. - Junior Nick Akins slammed a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to help Vanguard earn a 6-4 victory over the Concordia Eagles, pulling VU's overall baseball record to .500 for the first time since early February.

Leading 4-2, CUI reliever Cameron Bayne retired the first two Lions to begin the top of the eighth inning before Keegan Freeman and Jason Schaniel hit back-to-back singles for the visitors. Akins followed with a three-run blast to left-center field to bring Vanguard from a two-run deficit into a 5-4 lead.

VU reliever Brandon Godfrey, who took over for starter Brett Siegmund in the sixth, entered the bottom of the eighth inning with a one run lead and in line for his first victory of the season. Allowing a leadoff single to the Eagles, Godfrey notched two outs before being lifted for senior Richard Jessup. Jessup escaped the eighth-inning jam and pitched a perfect ninth inning to register his second save of the season.

Prior to the eighth, the Eagles had scored a single run in the bottom of the first off Siegmund, and added a pair of runs in the third inning on a two-run shot by Gregg Davidson. CUI's last run came in the sixth inning when CUI's Jimmy Mittleberger doubled off Siegmund. Two batters later, Siegmund entered the game, giving up an RBI single to Michael Gonzales.

Vanguard trailed 3-0 before scoring an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning, and cut the lead to 3-2 with a single run in the sixth as Derek Craddock tripled to right field, setting up a sacrifice fly by senior Ethan Gentry. After taking the 5-4 lead in the eighth, the Lions added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Ethan Gentry singled home his brother Tyler who was pinch-running for Josh Manzano.

CUI slips a full game behind the Lions in the GSAC standings as Vanguard nearly evens its GSAC record (11-12) with today's win. Overall, the Lions are now an even .500 at 15-15. 

The teams will rematch tomorrow at Vanguard for the fourth and final game of the season series.  Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Costa Mesa.  CUI leads the season series 2-1.

Boxscore

Dan Black Leads off at third base

Behrends pinch hits for the Lions