Costa Mesa, Calif. - Vanguard Baseball Field - No. 19-ranked The Master's College took advantage of five Vanguard errors and outhit the Lions 13-5 en route to a 9-1 victory in a GSAC makeup baseball game in Costa Mesa. The Mustangs, who split the first two games of a four-game series with the Lions, now hold a 2-1 advantage with the remaining game, rained out on April 14, rescheduled for a week from today.
The game-three matchup featured a pair of lefties starting on the hill with VU's Ruben Orosco (2-3) facing TMC's A.J. Work (8-2). The Mustangs got to Orosco first, scoring a single unearned run in the top of the second on two hits and a Vanguard error. Orosco was nearly perfect in the third and fourth innings, but the Mustangs lit up the scoreboard again in the fifth as another Vanguard error opened the door for a pair of unearned runs, driven home by TMC's Steve Karkenny with a two-run single.
The Mustangs doubled their 3-0 lead with a three-run sixth inning, ignited by a leadoff walk from Orosco, followed by a run-scoring double from Bryan Lucas. Orosco, who was charged with all three runs, was relieved by Scott Simmons with one out and two runners on base. Simmons got out of the inning, but not without the Mustangs plating the two inherited runners.
Vanguard's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when junior Adonis Tountas launched his first home run as a Lion, a one-out solo shot to left field to cut TMC's lead to 6-1.
The Master's put the game out of reach with a three-run eighth inning off Vanguard's fourth reliever J.R. Bromberg. Two more VU errors and a couple of hits, including a two-run single by Spencer downs, increased the Mustang lead to 9-1heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Lion offense had no answer as Work pitched into the eighth before being relieved by Zack Anderson with one out. Work and Anderson held the Lions hitless in the eighth and TMC's second reliever James Scott did not allow a hit in the ninth to secure the 9-1 victory.
No. 19 TMC improves to 30-15 overall and remain in third place at 15-12 in GSAC. The Mustangs will return to Costa Mesa next Monday to complete the four-game series.
Brandon Young had two of VU's five hits against Work, who struck out seven Vanguard hitters. Aside from the round-tripper by Adonis Tountas, Hank Yates and Nikko Tountas had VU's other two hits, both singles. Tucker Woods pitched .1 innings in relief of Simmons, while Terry Unruh pitched a scoreless ninth inning to complete Vanguard's pitching staff for the game.
Vanguard drops to 18-17 overall and 8-15 in conference, narrowly holding on to eighth place. The Lions have four more big GSAC games this week, hosting San Diego Christian for a double header on Thursday and traveling down to SDCC for a twinbill on Saturday. The Lions will have a chance to move up in the standings as SDCC sits right above the Lions in seventh.
