COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Lions picked up win number eight on Tuesday, using eight different pitchers in its 6-2 defeat of University of Redlands. Vanguard (8-0) has not lost in 2014.
Senior Clayton Voechting (Temecula, Calif.) started for the Lions and went three innings, leaving the game in the fourth with a 4-1 advantage in place.
Vanguard tallied four of its runs in the first using only one knock as senior Nick Rodda (Santa Rosa, Calif.) was hit to lead off the inning. Rodda's at-bat was followed by consecutive walks from freshman Brandon Sandoval (Fallbrook, Calif.) and senior Thomas Mobley (Anaheim, Calif.). Bret Collins (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was up next and reached on a fielder's choice to pick up the game's first RBI.
The Bulldogs then walked senior Ian Sakry (Long Beach, Calif.), loading the bags for junior Taylor McKnight (Mission Viejo, Calif.) who managed a double to bring Sandoval and B. Collins home.
Senior John Schwer (Burbank, Calif.) registered the frame's final RBI as he brought Sakry in with a sacrifice fly to right.
With freshman Joseph Rice (Temecula, Calif.) on the mound in the fourth, Redlands added a run off of two hits and a Lions' error to bring the score to 4-2.
The Pride added one of its own in the bottom of the frame as Rodda recorded an RBI base knock to bring Schwer around. Schwer previously reached on an error and advanced to second with a stolen base.
Junior Jordan Moak (Sulphur, La.) took over for Rice in the fifth and held the Bulldogs scoreless before the revolving door of VU pitchers swung open to reveal freshman Roberto Johnson (San Marcos, Calif.). The result was the same for Johnson and the Lions' defense as Redland's left two runners stranded as the top half of the fifth inning came to a close.
Freshman pitcher Brady Moore (Van Nuys, Calif.) entered the contest in the seventh and managed to navigate his way out of the frame unscathed despite having runners on second and third for the majority of the inning.
In the seventh Vanguard collected its sixth run of the day off of a Mobley ground-out. Rodda was hit for the second time to lead off the inning and moved two bags on a failed pick-off attempt and a throwing error before Mobley brought him home.
Junior Sam Frakes (Eagle Rock, Calif.) made quick work of the Redland's order in his half inning and his classmate Johnny Fageaux (Rossmoor, Calif.) protected the Lions' 6-2 advantage as he closed out the competition cleanly.
Designated hitter B. Collins led the offensive effort with his 2-for-3 performance on the day.
The win went to VU starter Voechting who amassed four strikeouts in three innings of work.
Vanguard travels to Santa Barbara on Friday to begin a three game series with the Warriors. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm.
-GOLDPRIDE-
