Krzysiak had 3 hits and 2 RBI |
Irvine, Calif. - Bouncing back from yesterday's loss, the No. 16-ranked Vanguard Lions notched extra bases on one-third of their 15 hits today as they scored seven runs in the final two innings to come from behind for a 10-6 victory over host Concordia University. Junior Bryce Reid earned the win in relief after shutting down the Eagles for the final three innings, while senior Brett Halstead ripped a two-run triple in the top of the eighth to give the Lions the lead.
"Today was a testament to our team's determination," said VU Head Coach Ralph Grajeda after the win. "They found a way to win despite adversity and a poor start to the week. They could have caved in early, but tightened the belt and grinded out a quality win."
In fact today's start wasn't great as a Vanguard error, a passed ball, and three Eagle hits against VU starter Robert Purpura added up to a three-run lead after one complete inning. Another VU error set up the fourth unearned run of the game in the bottom of the second as the Lions found themselves trailing 4-0.
Center fielder Tyson Leighton got the Lion offense started in the top of the fourth with a double down the left field line and later scored on an RBI single by Jason Dovel. However, CUI catcher John Hill connected for a run-scoring triple in the home side of the fourth to erase VU's progress against CUI starter Bennett Whitmore.
Brandon Young, and seniors Eric Krzysiak and Kip Masuda posted consecutive singles off Whitmore in the fifth to load the bases with only one out. Whitmore got the second out of the frame before losing his poise slightly, hitting Jacob Domingos to score Young and walking Dovel to bring the Lions within two runs 5-3.
The Eagles would add one more run off Purpura in the sixth inning as Hill tagged his third hit and registered his third RBI of the game for a 6-3 Eagle lead. That would be the end of the Eagle offense for the day though as Reid relieved Purpura in the seventh and held the hosts hitless and struck out three for the remainder of the game.
Meanwhile, the Vanguard offense started to catch fire as the game progressed and the Lions turned the game around. The Lions made CUI relievers Jeff Allen and Jacob McBride pay for a couple of Eagle errors that opened the door for a big inning in the top of the eighth. Billy Hamilton doubled to get the rally going and pinch runner Keegan Freeman scored later on the first CUI miscue. But it was Tyson Leighton who battled McBride until he finally ripped a two-run single to tie the game. Coach Grajeda called Halstead to the plate and he did the rest of the damage, launching a 1-2 pitch from McBride off the right field fence for a triple and two RBI's to give the Lions an 8-6 lead.
Krzysiak stroked a two-out double in the top of the ninth to plate two more runs and give Reid plenty of confidence as he pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth for his third victory of the season.
Young and Krzysiak belted three hits apiece to lead the Lion attack, followed by Masuda and Leighton with two each. Leighton, Krzysiak, Halstead, and Dovel each tallied two RBIs as the win evens the four-game series at one game apiece.
The Lions improve to 32-14 overall and 22-12 in GSAC, bringing their road record to 10-9 this season. Concordia drops to 25-22 overall and 15-19 in GSAC with the series-ending double header at Vanguard on Saturday, where the Lions are 22-5 in 2010. Game one of the GSAC twinbill begins at 12:00 p.m.
Boxscore
