Irvine, Calif. - Host Concordia University handed No. 16-ranked Vanguard University a 17-6 loss in GSAC baseball action today in Irvine. Today's meeting was the first of the season between the teams and the first of a four-game series this week.
Eric Krzysiak's RBI-double in the first inning and Bryce Arroyo's run-scoring single in the fourth gave the Lions a 2-1 lead against the Eagles and CUI's starting pitcher Daniel Levine. Vanguard added a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Levine walked the first two batters of the inning and Jacob Domingos cracked a bases loaded, two-out single off CUI reliever Josh White.
However, VU's 4-1 lead was short-lived as Lion starter Brandon Godfrey ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth. After retiring the first two outs of the inning, the Eagles connected on a pair of singles setting the stage for John Hill's three-run home run to right field. Tied 4-4, the Eagles took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Stacking four hits, a hit batter, and an intentional walk, the hosts scored five runs to take a 9-4 lead. A three-run double by Matt Ivanoff chased Godfrey and the Lions brought in James McGeary to take over pitching duties. McGeary gave up an RBI-single to Hill before getting out of the jam, with all five runs charged to Godfrey.
Vanguard picked up an unearned run in the seventh, but the Eagles padded the lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Things got worse for the Lions as the hosts put the game away with five runs on no hits, three walks, three hit batters, a wild pitch and a passes ball against two Lion relievers in the Eagle eighth inning.
Vanguard, led by Arroyo, Domingos, and Brandon Young who had two hits apiece, scored six runs on nine hits and an Eagle error. Godfrey dropped to 7-3 with the loss as he and three relievers allowed 17 runs on 17 hits, four hit batters and three wild pitches.
Losing for a season-high third game in a row, the Lions slip to 31-14 overall and 21-12 in GSAC. Concordia improves to 25-21 overall and 15-18 in GSAC. Tomorrow's rematch at Concordia will also begin at 3:00 p.m.
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