COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard hosted Cal State San Marcos on the VU Baseball Field Friday afternoon, taking the No. 16 Cougars into extra frames before claiming the 13-inning upset to remain unbeaten at 2-0. With the loss, CSUSM falls to 0-1 on the season.
Newcomer Eddie Rivera (Anaheim, Calif.) earned the Lions' second start of the year, throwing seven full innings for The Pride. He allowed just a pair of runs off of three hits in the effort, while striking out three and walking no one.
The Lions out-produced the Cougars through nine innings, garnering six hits compared to San Marcos' three. Vanguard's knocks were spread throughout the contest, while CSUSM registered two of its hits and both of its runs in the fifth.
Vanguard's first run came in the second by way of a lead-off double from junior Bret Collins (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and an RBI ground-out from classmate Taylor McKnight (Mission Viejo, Calif.).
The Blue and Gold posted another run in the seventh off of a CSUSM error, two stolen bases from senior John Schwer (Burbank, Calif.) and an RBI single courtesy of the Lions' senior catcher, Jack Daru (Bradenton, Fla.), to tie the match-up at 2-all.
Junior Marshall McKinnon (Los Gatos, Calif.) relieved Rivera in the seventh and went on a tear, striking out five while holding the Cougars scoreless for five innings.
In the 11th, senior Thomas Mobley (Anaheim, Calif.) got the ball rolling offensively for VU, collecting a one-out single up the middle and advancing to third following a B. Collins walk and a fielder's choice from senior Ian Sakry (Long Beach, Calif.), but a fly-out from McKnight ended the inning with two Lions stranded.
Cal State San Marcos brought in its fourth hurler of the day in the 12th, Aaron Alva, and VU capitalized as Daru registered a well-hit double down the right field line. Davis entered the game to pinch run for the Blue and Gold and quickly stole second to give VU a runner in scoring position with one out on the board. Senior Greg Younger (Bakersfield, Calif.) drew a walk next which the Cougars' pitching staff followed with an intentional walk on fourth-year Nick Rodda (Santa Rosa, Calif.) to load the bases for Vanguard.
The effort was all for naught, however, as a 6-2-3 double-play ended the frame for the Lions.
Junior Sam Frakes (Eagle Rock, Calif.) came in for McKinnon in the 13th and upheld the standard of his two predecessors by getting the Lions out of the inning with the tie intact.
The deadlock was broken in the bottom of the 13th as determined VU batters (Mobley, B. Collins, McKnight and sophomore Paul Keating (Oceanside, Calif.)) hit and drew walks until the bases were loaded for Daru who drew another walk to bring home B. Collins with the game-winning RBI.
B. Collins finished the day at 3-for-3 with a double and 3 walks, while Daru matched his teammates' hit total with 3 knocks and added 2 doubles and 2 RBIs of his own. Rodda and Mobley went 2-for-5 and 2-for-6, respectively, to tally Vanguard's four remaining hits.
Frakes picked up his first career win as a Lion with a single scoreless inning of work.
CSUSM's Clinton Perez was credited with the loss after walking four batters in the 13th.
The only player to record a multi-hit game on the Cougars' roster was Dylan Costello, who went 2-for-4 on the day.
Vanguard and Cal State San Marcos wrap a three-game series on Saturday at CSUSM. The first game of the day is scheduled for 11:00 am.
-GOLDPRIDE-
