By Beth Renkoski

04/23/09

Vanguard Holds Off Hawks

Lakeside, Calif. - Vanguard University sustained a five-run ninth inning by the San Diego Christian Hawks and held on for a 9-8 victory in GSAC baseball action this afternoon at Star's Field in Lakeside.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the third inning, the Lions cut the deficit in half with a solo home run from Brett Siegmund, his fourth round-tripper of the season. Vanguard took the lead with a two-run fourth inning, receiving RBIs from senior Derek Craddock and Eric Krzysiak.

SDCC tied the score in the bottom of the third inning but the Lions scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good as a Hawk miscue on Nick Akins' single scored Dan Black for the go-ahead run. An inning later, the Lions broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning. Josh Manzano started the rally with a single and pinch-runner Ethan Gentry advanced to third base on a single by Craddock. The Lions eventually loaded the bases and Jacob Wood capitalized with his first grand slam of the year, putting the Lions into an 8-3.

Riding a seemingly safe 8-3 into the top of the ninth, the Lions stacked on another unearned run when Zack Falk walked and scored on a Hawk error on Sonny Behrends' ground ball. VU's ninth run would prove to be the game-winner.

The Hawks rallied back in the ninth with five runs, as three came on a three-run bomb by Ruben Hinojosa. However, Vanguard reliever Brian Lewis was able to secure the final out for the 9-8 win.

Ryan Vollkemmer scattered seven hits to the Hawks in his four innings of work and left in the bottom of the fifth in a 3-3 tie. Although giving up the five-run ninth, Lewis earned the win in relief with a five-inning effort for the Lions, improving to 2-2 this season. Krzysiak and Craddock led the Lions with two hits each and Wood topped VU with four runs batted in with his fourth home run of the season.

The Hawks slip to 12-32 overall and 3-30 in GSAC while the Lions lift their record to 18-25 and 12-21 in GSAC. Before the teams rematch next week the Lions host the Westmont Warriors on Saturday in a GSAC baseball double header.

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