By Beth Renkoski

04/29/09

Big Innings Lift Golden Eagles Over Vanguard

Los Angeles, Calif. - Cal State Los Angeles used an eight-run third inning to overcome a 4-1 deficit and take the lead for good en route to a 17-8 victory over visiting Vanguard University, ending the Lions' season.

Vanguard scored four runs in the top of the second as Brett Siegmund led off with a solo home run to left field. Derek Craddock began a two-out rally with a single and then stole second base off CSULA starter Danny Desantiago. Zack Falk walked to put two runners on for senior Ethan Gentry. Gentry singled to right field to score Craddock and moved to second on the throw home. Gentry and Falk both scored when the Golden Eagles could not handle Nick Akins' grounder to shortstop.

The 4-1 lead held until the bottom of the third when the Golden Eagles used back-to-back singles to begin the rally against Vanguard southpaw Brandon Godfrey. Eight singles and one double later CSULA had tallied seven runs, forcing the Lions to bring in relief pitcher Brian Lewis with one out and runners at first and second base. Lewis struck out the first batter he faced, but the Golden Eagles pulled off a double steal and scored on an error on the play, completing the eight-run inning.

Trailing 9-4, the Lions narrowed the gap to 9-6 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on an RBI grounder by Gentry and a sacrifice fly by Akins.

CSULA padded the cushion back to 10-6 in the bottom half of the fourth, but the Lions bounced back with two runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to 10-8. Sonny Behrends lofted a sacrifice fly to plate Eric Krzysiak, and Falk was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Siegmund with VU's final run of the day.

Two runs was as close as the Lions would get as Cal State LA tacked on two runs in the fifth and broke the game wide open with a five-run seventh.

CSULA outhit the Lions 20-9 en route to the 17-8 victory in their last home game of the season, lifting the Golden Eagles' record to 31-15 overall.

With seven of VU's nine seniors seeing action in the game, Craddock finished his collegiate career with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring two of VU's eight runs. Krzysiak and Siegmund, also playing his final game, tallied two hits apiece while Gentry was the only Lion with two RBIs. With Godfrey (1-5) and Lewis combining to complete four innings, the Lions used a total of seven pitchers with senior Rich Jessup pitched the final inning, allowing no hits, one walk, and striking out three batters.

The Lions, who ended the GSAC regular season yesterday at San Diego Christian, finish the year 19-28 overall and 13-23 in GSAC.

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