Costa Mesa, Calif. - In the final contest of the four-game series with Point Loma Nazarene University, the Vanguard Lions used two home runs from senior Tyson Leighton, the latter a two-run walk-off shot, to erase a 1-2 deficit and give the hosts a 3-2 victory. Point Loma won the first game of the day 2-1 in ten innings, and took three of the four games with the Blue and Gold this week.
The first half of the double-header featured only three runs, despite a combined 17 hits between the two programs. The Sea Lions scored first, recording a run in the top of the second inning off a Jack Diamond RBI single to left field. It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Blue and Gold put a run on the scoreboard. Matt Avery scored off a left field double by Bryce Arroyo, tying the game at one.
The game remained in a stalemate through the nine innings of regulation, sending the contest into extras. Point Loma took advantage in the tenth, when a VU error allowed the Sea Lions' Scott Stidham to reach base before advancing to second. PLNU teammate Edgar Molina then singled to center field to score Stidham, which proved to be the game winning run.
Point Loma's Chris Gonzalez earned the win, pitching two innings in relief. Vanguard starter Corey Kohnke pitched well in the no-decision, allowing seven hits and one run in six innings on the mound, striking out six batters. James McGeary appeared in one inning of relief, before Antonio Peraza pitched the final three innings, taking the tough loss when VUSC gave up the unearned run.
The Pride was led to victory in the nightcap largely by the bat of Leighton. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when the Sea Lions scored off a sacrifice fly. Point Loma added another run in the sixth, using two stolen bases and an RBI single by Clinton Harwick to grab a two-run lead.
Leighton responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo bomb to right field, cutting the lead in half. Then, with two outs and one runner aboard in the seventh and final inning, Leighton crushed a pitch from Brett Carlile over the wall in right-center to help the Blue and Gold salvage the final game of the series.
Leighton finished the second game with three hits and all three RBI for VU, while Jerry Pena and Matthew Avery added two hits each for the Pride. The Lions received six solid innings from senior starter Robert Purpura, who allowed six hits and two runs, striking out three. Senior Bryce Reid was awarded the win, striking out one batter in his scoreless inning of work.
Carlile took the loss for Point Loma, who is now 16-14 on the season, and 11-12 in GSAC play.
The split brings the Lions' overall record to 14-17, including a 10-11 conference mark. The Blue and Gold will be back on the field on Monday, April 4, at 3:00 p.m. for makeup game at home against Biola University.
