Senior Brandon Godfrey |
Brandon Arroyo had a hit for VU |
Costa Mesa, Calif. - Cold air and heavy winds did not cool off the Lancer bats today as California Baptist whisked through Costa Mesa in the first of a four-game GSAC baseball series this week. The No. 5-ranked Lancers out-hit the No. 11-ranked Lions 12-7 and took advantage of two Lion errors to defeat Vanguard University 12-2.
With a rainy afternoon in the forecast, CBU made the trip to Costa Mesa and did not leave empty handed, as the threat of rain lingered but never materialized. Leading Vanguard by three games in the GSAC standings prior to today, the Lancers strengthened their hold on first place and narrowed the chances of anyone catching them in the last seven games of the regular season. CBU jumped on the board early against VU's senior southpaw Brandon Godfrey who began the day with an overall record 7-1 with a GSAC-leading ERA of 1.37. Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases with Lancers with no outs in the top of the second inning. A pop fly detained the Lancers momentarily before Matt Johnson singled home Zach Hedges for the first run of the game. An RBI ground out by Matt Marnati plated CBU's second run before Garrett Rau delivered a two-out, two-run single, driving in what proved to be the eventual winning run.
The Lancers added a run in each of the next three innings, roughing Godfrey up for six runs on seven hits and five walks before he handed the job to reliever Ryan Pauly. Pauly gave up three runs on three hits and a balk in the next two innings as CBU took a 9-0 lead.
Trailing 11-0 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Lions claimed a pair of runs off CBU starter Taylor Siemens (8-1). Jason Dovel singled with two outs, while Brandon Pesante and Bryce Arroyo worked walks off Siemens to load the bases. Senior Zach Leighton cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single to get the Lions on the board.
The Lancers tallied 12 hits off five Vanguard pitchers, taking advantage of eight walks, four hit batsmen, two errors, and a balk to improve to 35-11 overall and 24-5 in GSAC.
Led by Tyson Leighton's two hits, the Lions totaled seven hits on the day but left eight runners stranded and had a pair thrown out on the bases.
Hoping today's results will blow away quickly with the predicted thunder storm, the Lions will aim at coming back to play the type of baseball they have played all season.
"I didn't think there was too much insight into today's game," commented Vanguard head coach Ralph Grajeda. "You don't give yourself a chance as a club when you give free bases away. It doesn't matter if you're the #5-ranked team in the NAIA or the #105-ranked team. Allowing errors from routine plays, walking eight, throwing multiple wild pitches and hitting batters will make anyone look like world beaters. In short, we beat ourselves."
Vanguard, now 30-11 overall and 20-9 in GSAC, will have the opportunity for a rematch with the Lancers tomorrow for game two of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Costa Mesa.
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