San Marcos, Calif. ---The Vanguard baseball program hit the road this afternoon for a non-conference tilt with California State-San Marcos, the first of three meetings between the two programs in the next two days. The host Cougars took game one behind a four-run ninth inning, nipping the Pride 8-7 in VU's second game of the season.
Vanguard fell behind in the first frame when Lions' starter Jason Dovel gave up a leadoff triple to San Marcos' Kyle Secciani. After recording a flyout, Dovel induced Coleman into a groundout, but the initial damage was done, as Secciani scored on the play. The Cougars got two more in the third inning, using a two-RBI single by Kevin Silvett to take a 3-0 lead on the Blue and Gold.
The Lions offense was stagnant until the sixth inning, when Jeremiah Mejia's double brought home teammate Brandon Young, who had earned an infield hit to lead off the inning. Vanguard really broke out in the top of the seventh, still trailing 3-1. After Bryce Arroyo reached base on an error, the floodgates opened. The Pride took advantage of another Cougar error and three walks issued by the San Marcos pitchers. Two big hits by Tyson Leighton and Kyle Hardman, both knocking in two, did most of the damage, and by the time the dust settled, VUSC had a 7-3 lead.
San Marcos cut the deficit to 7-4 in the eighth inning on a Johnny Omahen homer, but Vanguard still maintained control of the contest heading into the ninth. After the Lions were blanked in the top of the inning, the host Cougars were just three outs away from a season-opening loss. However, San Marcos responded with a huge rally, as the Vanguard pitching staff struggled with their control.
A leadoff double gave the Cougars momentum, and a walk followed by a passed ball cut the Lions' lead to 7-5. After issuing another walk, VU pitcher Mike Leal came in to try and stop the Cougars' run. He did not have much luck, issuing a walk to the first batter he faced. After recording the first out of the inning for Vanguard, San Marcos' Anthony Renteria smacked a single to center that plated a pair of runs and tied the game at seven. Intentionally walking the next batter, Leal chose to face Omahen, needing a double-play to send the game to extra innings. Omahen had other thoughts, and the drilled a single down the right field line to score the game-winning run and give the Cougars a win in their season opener.
Leal took the tough loss for the Pride, while Mitch Ferguson earned the win for San Marcos. VUSC was outhit in the contest 14-6, and each team had one error. Vanguard fell to 1-1 with the loss, and will host the same Cougar squad on Saturday in Costa Mesa. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 11:00 a.m.
