El Cajon, CA---In a pair of crucial GSAC games, the Vanguard Lions swept the host San Diego Christian Hawks on Saturday, winning the first contest 7-6 in ten innings and capping the series with a convincing 15-7 victory. Vanguard moved into sole possession of sixth place in the GSAC standings with the sweep, taking three of four from the Hawks this week while outscoring SDCC 40-23 in the four games.
The Lions used three RBI from senior Brandon Young to propel the visitors to a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth frame. However, the Hawks rallied to score four consecutive runs to tie the game and send it into extras. Yet the Pride scored in the top of the tenth, thanks to a JT Truhett base hit and an error and hit-by-pitch from SDCC. Leading 7-6, the Lions summoned senior Gabe Garcia from the bullpen to close out the game. Garcia did just that, striking out two San Diego Christian batters and getting one other groundout to hand the Blue and Gold the victory.
Tucker Woods earned the win, his third of the season, for the Lions, while Garcia notched the save. Young finished 3-3 with three RB, while Truhett added a pair of hits. David Kiriakos hit a solo shot as well. Jeremy Blare was handed the loss in relief for SDCC, who outhit the Lions 13-9 but committed three errors in the game.
Game two was an offensive display for both programs, but the Lions took the show to another level. The Blue and Gold scored seven runs in the opening frame, recording hits off SDCC starter Brock Heerdt. Heerdt lasted only 0.1 innings, and gave up all seven runs, though just four were earned. Again the Pride took advantage of the Hawks' errors, and Hank Yates (two RBI-triple), Young (RBI triple), Bryce Arroyo (RBI popup), Eric Sanchez (two RBI-single), and Kiriakos (RBI single) all played large roles in the inning, boosting the visitors to a huge lead.
San Diego Christian scored three times to cut the lead to 7-4, but the Lions answered with a run in the second, four more in the third, and two runs in the four to make it 14-3 VUSC after four innings. The Hawks were able to cut into the Vanguard lead, but it wasn't nearly enough as the Pride rolled to another victory.
Kiriakos and Yates both finished with three hits, while Arroyo had a terrific effort with five RBI. J.R Bromberg earned the win for VU, while Heerdt took the loss for San Diego Christian. The Hawks fell to 18-29 overall, 10-18 in GSAC action.
The Lions improved to 21-18 this spring, including an 11-16 mark in conference play. The Lions are now in sole possession of sixth place in the GSAC standings, one win ahead of Westmont and SDCC in the win column. Vanguard hosts 16th-ranked The Master's on Monday at 3:00, the final game against TMC this spring. The Pride then finish the 2012 regular season schedule with four-game series against Westmont.
