Pesante had 2 hits and 2 RBI |
Costa Mesa, Calif. - Returning to action after a seven-day layoff, the ninth-ranked Vanguard Lions lost a tough one to 12th-ranked Point Loma Nazarene University. In the first of a four-game series this week between the second and third place teams in the Golden State Athletic Conference, things just got a little tighter as the Sea Lions won 5-2, leaving only one game separating the two in the GSAC standings.
It was predicted to be a pitcher's duel as both teams sent one of their best to the hill. Facing PLNU's leader in ERA and innings pitched, the Lions scored first against Steven Winnick, who eventually earned the win to improve to 7-1 this season. Taking advantage of a Sea Lions error, which extended the inning, the Lions plated their first run of the day on a two-out single by Brandon Pesante.
Vanguard sent senior Brandon Godfrey to the mound with a sparkling 6-0 record, but the southpaw danced around a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the first inning as he walked three batters before notching the final two outs. After shaking off the rust in the top of the first, Godfrey cruised through the next three innings allowing just three hits along the way.
However, trouble hit again in the top of the fifth inning when a Vanguard error opened the door for the Sea Lions with two outs on the scoreboard. PLNU seized its opportunity and quickly loaded the bases again on a single and a hit batsman. Kevin Newberg gave the Sea Lions their first lead of the day with a two-run single to right field. Jeff Fox stepped up next and connected for his biggest hit of the day, driving a Godfrey pitch into left for a 3-1 lead.
Krzysiak dives in for a double in the 9th |
Jason Dovel got the Vanguard offense going in the home half of the sixth when he ripped a double to right field. Although Dovel was thrown out at third base on a one-out fielder's choice by Jacob Wood, the momentum continued when Brandon Pesante drilled a double to left field, scoring Wood from first base. The Sea Lions brought in Josh Dexheimer to relieve Winnick, who exited with a 3-2 lead. Co-leading PLNU with two saves, Dexheimer did the job again for the Sea Lions by retiring Brandon Young, last week's NAIA Player of the Week, on a foul fly to left field.
Dexheimer allowed only two hits the rest of the way as he pitched the final 3.1 innings for his third save of the year.
Godfrey worked six complete innings, giving up three unearned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three Sea Lions. Adrian Mendoza, VU's most frequently used reliever, took over for Godfrey in the top of the seventh and mowed down the first six batters he faced. However, the Sea Lions would add a pair of runs in the ninth as Tyler Kuehl launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring Allen Boyer who had singled to lead off the frame.
Eric Krzysiak doubled with two outs in the ninth to try and ignite a Vanguard comeback, but Fox (PLNU first baseman) made a diving stop on a hard hit ball by Tyson Leighton and delivered a perfect toss to a hustling Dexheimer to record the out at first base.
Leighton and Pesante led Vanguard offensively with two hits each and Pesante collected VU's only RBIs on the day.
Combining evenly for 20 hits and six errors today, the teams return to action tomorrow again in Costa Mesa where they will play the second game of the four-game series. Saturday there will be a series-ending double header at Point Loma. Tomorrow's game begins at 3:00 p.m.
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