Costa Mesa, Calif. - The Vanguard Lions defeated the Azusa Pacific Cougars for the second day in a row, winning 10-4 in GSAC baseball action this afternoon in Costa Mesa. The Lions pounded 11 hits and took advantage of five Cougar errors as they improved to 2-0 in GSAC. The teams will meet again tomorrow in a series-ending double header at Azusa Pacific, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The double header was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved up to try and avoid the predicted rain.
No. 17-ranked Azusa appeared ready to avenge yesterday's 6-0 loss to the Lions when they plated four runs in the first five innings of play off Vanguard starting pitcher Jason Dovel. APU used two-out run-scoring singles to produce a run in each of the second and third innings before Jashue Leite took Dovel deep for a solo shot in the top of the fourth. Another two-out single made Dovel pay for a leadoff walk he gave up in the top of the fifth, giving the Cougars a 4-1 lead when Dovel exited the game.
Vanguard's first run came in the bottom of the fourth after wasting a couple of scoring opportunities earlier in the game. Brandon Pesante singled home Tyson Leighton who had reached on an APU error. Coming to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions cashed in on more APU miscues and put a three spot on the board to tie the score. APU's Ian Kelly worked five solid innings before taking the mound in the sixth and walking leadoff batter Eric Krzysiak. Courtesy runner Braulio Archer moved to second on a single by Leighton and the Cougars brought in Michael Oeser to put out the fire. Unfortunately for APU, VU's Keegan Freeman greeted Oeser with a single to center field, scoring Archer. A fielder's choice left runners at first and second but a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position. Finally, a two-out wild pitch scored Freeman and a passed ball plated Jacob Wood, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
Lance Abbott, who took over for Dovel in the top of the sixth, found himself in position for the win after the Lions tied the score. Pitching a perfect sixth and seventh innings, he returned to the hill with a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth. However, the eighth would be a little rough. Giving up a single to begin the inning, Abbott used his defense to double off the Cougars. A single surrounded by two intentional walks put the Cougars in position to retake the lead but Abbott struck out the last Cougar to escape the jam.
The two unearned runs in the seventh inning gave the Lions a 6-4 lead but Vanguard knew it needed to add to the lead to secure the win. Facing APU's third pitcher, Garrett Granitz, to begin the eighth inning, the Lions started the rally with a walk to Wood. Sacrificing Wood to second, back-to-back APU errors opened the door for a big inning for the Lions. After two runs were already home, Billy Hamilton drilled a two-run homer that gave the reliable VU pitching staff more than enough room to work.
Peter Birdwell entered the game in the top of the ninth, allowing a single to begin the frame. However, he squelched any APU hope as he struck the number nine hitter and retired the top two in APU's batting order to end the game.
Hamilton, Kip Masuda, Krzysiak, Leighton, and Freeman had two hits each and Hamilton topped the Lions with two RBIs and scored two runs. Dovel pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits but received no decision. Abbott completed three scoreless innings, walking two, striking out two and allowing two hits, as he earned his first win as a Lion. Birdwell worked a scoreless ninth, concluding another solid day on the mound for the VU pitching staff.
APU's Oeser, one of five pitchers on the day, took the loss for the Cougars, who drop to 7-3 overall and 0-2 in GSAC.
Vanguard committed only one error and improves to an impressive 10-1 overall with tomorrow's rescheduled double header looming largely in front of them. Already off to a fantastic start, the Lions sit in a tie for first in the GSAC standings at 2-0.
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