Lakeside, Calif. - Vanguard University and San Diego Christian combined for 56 hits in a GSAC baseball double header this afternoon at SDCC's Stars Field in Lakeside. Vanguard out-hit SDCC 19-15 in game one, pulling off a 19-17 victory, but the Hawks pounded 14 hits to Vanguard's eight in game two and earned the split with a 14-4 decision. The teams used 18 pitchers between them in the double header as hitters tallied 17 extra base hits, including nine home runs on the day.
The Lions charged ahead in game one, posting two huge innings to take a 14-1 lead against the Hawks. Seniors Eric Krzysiak and Kip Masuda roped two-run singles in VU's six-run second inning, giving VU starting pitcher Lance Abbott a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning.
Two innings later the Lions struck big again, taking advantage of some control problems by the SDCC pitching staff en route to a seven-run fourth frame. Masuda and Jason Dovel contributed two-run singles and Brandon Young cleared the bases with a three-run double, stretching VU's lead to 14-1.
Abbott allowed one run on a solo homer in three innings on the mound before being relieved by Adrian Mendoza. After retiring his first batter, Medoza was tagged with two straight hits, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, slicing VU's lead to 14-3. However, things only got worse for Mendoza as he faced the first eight hitters of the fifth inning without recording out. Six runs later, the Lions brought in Braulio Archer for Mendoza, but Archer lasted only three batters. James McGeary replaced Archer and used a double play to exit the jam. The Hawks had totaled eight runs by the end of the fifth, shaving VU's lead to 14-11.
The game was far from over though as Vanguard added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run home run by Bryce Arroyo.
Trailing 16-11, the Hawks would still not go away. McGeary returned to the hill in the bottom of the sixth, only to see the Hawks rally for three runs on three straight hits, capped by a three-run homer by David Kazcor. McGeary started the bottom of the seventh but handed the ball over to Mike Anderson with two runners on base and only one out. A VU error, two hit batters, and a two-run single added up to a three-run seventh for the Hawks with Mike Bando driving home the go-ahead run for a 17-16 SDCC lead.
But the Lions responded with the bats in the top of the eighth inning as Jake Wood ripped a one-out base hit to begin the VU rally. Zach Leighton singled with two outs to keep the inning going, and Young doubled home Wood and Leighton to give the Lions an 18-17 lead. Krzysiak came through with the go-ahead single to score Young for VU's 19th run of the game.
Leading 19-17, the Vanguard bullpen took control from there. The Lions called senior Peter Birdwell to the mound to take on the Hawks in the bottom of the eighth inning. Birdwell worked quickly, retiring all three Hawks he faced before handing the job over to Robert Purpura for the ninth. Striking out the first two hitters of the inning, Purpura was tested when a VU error extended the game. A Hawk single brought put the tying run on and the winning run to the plate in Bando. Purpura earned his fifth save of the season when he struck out Bando to end game one 19-17.
Game two brought more offensive excitement, but the majority of it was for the hosts. SDCC out-hit the Lions 14-8 and took advantage of three Vanguard errors and six walks in the seven-inning nightcap. Bryce Reid started on the mound for the Lions but was chased after eight hits and ten runs in two innings of work as the Hawks posted a nine-run second inning to take a 10-0 lead. Ryal Pauly took over for Reid, but Pauly allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in 3.1 innings. Jordan Oseguera was VU's final pitcher of the day as he pitched the final two-thirds of an inning of game two, receiving no decision.
VU scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it would not be enough as the Hawks claimed their only win in the four-game series with Vanguard.
Young was outstanding at the play, notching six hits, scoring four runs, and driving home five runs in the double header. Tyson Leighton added four hits, three RBIs, and scored three runs as the Lions move to 19-3 overall and 10-2 in GSAC.
Vanguard returns to the diamond on Tuesday when the Lions travel to San Marcos for a nonconference game with the Cougars. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
