Costa Mesa, Calif- No. 2-ranked Concordia University defeated Vanguard University 20-6 in a Golden State Athletic Conference baseball game, taking a 2-0 series lead over the Lions.
The Eagles bats were in full effect from the opening pitch. They jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Chris Kuber doubled to center field scoring the two runs. Concordia (11-5, 5-1) had built a four-run lead by the end of the fourth inning, highlighted by Tony Harkey, Jr.'s home run in the second inning.
Ryan DiMascio added to the Eagles lead, hitting a two-RBI home run in the fifth inning. Steven McMichael brought the lead to 8-0 with a two-run single to center field.
It took until the fifth inning for the Pride to reach the scoreboard, a home run by Nikko Tountas, bringing the score to 8-1.
The Eagles added two more scores in the sixth inning by an RBI single from Kuber and a sacrifice fly by DiMascio.They put up two more runs in the seventh, off doubles from Konicek and Kuber.
The Blue and Gold brought the score to 10-3 in the bottom half of the inning with a two-RBI single to center field by Alec Rosales. Vanguard (8-4, 0-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, two of which came off a single up the middle by David Kiriakos.
Concordia kept scoring in the 8th and 9th innings, adding eight more runs. Harkey Jr. hit his second home run of the game, knocking in two runners. The five runs in the ninth inning were scored off three hits, including a triple by Konicek.
Konicek was a perfect 5-5 at the plate, knocking in four runs. Kuber went 3-5, racking up four RBI as well. DiMascio, 2-5 in at bats, recorded three RBI's and scored two runs. Harkey Jr. knocked three hits in four plate appearances, hitting two home runs in the process.
The Lions were lead by Eric Sanchez going 2-3 at the plate and J.T. Truhett batting 2-5 on the day.
Vanguard starter Gabe Garcia (2-2) was awarded the loss for succumbing six runs to the Eagles on seven hits. He struck out five CUI batters in 4.1 innings on the mound. The Lions used four other pitchers to complete the game.
Thomas Hoenshell (2-1) won the game for Concordia, allowing six runs from nine hits by the Lions.
Vanguard and Concordia square off March 3 to finish the final two games of the series. The double header begins at 11:00 a.m. on the campus of Concordia University, Irvine.
