COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard looked strong as it took down Biola in the first of three Golden State Athletic Conference contests with the Eagles. The Pride's offense dominated, registering five runs off of 15 hits while the Lions' pitching staff and defense held BU to four runs and ten hits on the day.
Vanguard senior Kamakani Usui (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Biola's Nick Turner (Palos Verdes, Calif.) squared off on the mound for their respective squads on Friday afternoon at the VU Baseball Field.
Vanguard supported Usui's cause early as it tallied the game's first run in the second inning. Seniors Bryce Arroyo (Brea, Calif.) and Ellis Whitman (Seattle, Wash.) started the frame with back-to-back base knocks and sophomore Taylor McKnight (Mission Viejo, Calif.) picked up the RBI with a sacrifice bunt to bring Arroyo home for the Lions.
In the third, the Pride pressed forward, loading the bases with no outs on the board, but Biola found its way out of the jam with a put-out at the plate and a 6-4-3 double-play to keep the contest within a run.
The fourth was a different story as five consecutive VU batters reached safely to generate three runs for the Blue and Gold.
Usui tossed five innings for the Pride and was replaced in the sixth by junior Clayton Voechting (Temecula, Calif.) after the Eagles loaded the bases early in the frame. Usui held Biola scoreless thru five but was credited with a pair of runs in the sixth. He struck out two, walked five and gave up six hits in the stint.
Vanguard did not appear phased by the Eagles' comeback attempt, and promptly extended its advantage to three runs after a lead off single from junior Ian Sakry (Long Beach, Calif.) and a clutch RBI base knock from Ochart on a full count.
Biola made it interesting in the ninth with a two-run homerun down the left field line but VU buckled down when it counted to register the 5-4 win.
Sakry led the Pride with his three-for-four performance and Whitman, Arroyo, Ochart and third-year John Collins (Fallbrook, Calif.) tallied two hits apiece in the victory.
"Our pitching staff kept us in this game today," Sakry said. "I felt pretty good at the plate and I thought that our hitters stepped up every time that we needed production. I just tried to stay within myself and not do too much and it worked out. This was a good game for us, all of the pieces came together."
Usui collected the win and moves to 4-6 on the year while senior closer Kevin Ponzo (San Dimas, Calif.) earned his tenth save of the season for VU. Voetchting tossed three scoreless innings in relief, struck out two and gave up just two hits.
"This was a total team effort today and we are glad to get this win," Usui said. "I have to give credit to our defense, which really backed me up today. We hope to keep this momentum going for the remainder of the season."
The Lions and Eagles return to action on Saturday for a noon doubleheader. The 2013 seniors will be honored prior to the first game.
-GOLDPRIDE-
