PHOENIX – Vanguard (20-10) made the most of its spring break road-trip, picking up three important Golden State Athletic Conference wins over Arizona Christian (10-20, 4-17 GSAC) to improve to 13-8 in league slates. Brandon Sandoval (FR/Fallbrook, CA) and Taylor McKnight (JR/Mission Viejo, CA) led the Lions' attack, each recording three multi-hit games over the weekend for The Pride.
On Friday, in VU's 9-3 victory, McKnight and Mobley paced the Blue and Gold offense with a pair of 3-for-5 performances. McKnight notched a double in the affair to tally a game-high 3 RBIs, while Mobley came up with two stolen bases.
Three other players, Sandoval, Greg Younger (SR/Bakersfield, CA) and John Schwer (SR/Burbank, CA), managed two knocks in the win. Younger also logged a two-bagger and two RBIs on the day.
The Lions' starting pitcher, Scott Torrey (JR/Simi Valley, CA), was credited with the success and moves to 6-1 overall.
In Saturday's opening competition, the Vanguard batters could not be contained despite ACU's best efforts, and The Pride took down the Firestorm 12-4.
Three of VU's 13 knocks went to Sandoval, who garnered a team-best 3 RBIs in the game to back up starter Eddie Rivera (SR/Anaheim, CA). Schwer and Nick Rodda (SR/Santa Rosa, CA) also aided Rivera's cause with a pair of hits apiece, but in the end Rivera did not need much help as he tossed seven full innings and struck out nine Firestorm batters.
One of Schwer's two knocks in the opener was a triple.
The nightcap saw Vanguard complete the sweep with a 4-1 triumph. Half of the Lions' RBIs were attributed to Sandoval, who was able to log his second three-hit contest of the series.
McKnight came up with two knocks, an RBI and a run scored, while John Collins (SR/Fallbrook, CA) collected two hits of his own and the game's remaining RBI.
Clayton Voechting (SR/Temecula, CA) snagged the complete-game win for the Pride, matching Rivera's strikeout count (9), while allowing just one run. Voechting sits at 4-2 on the year following his strong performance on the mound.
Sandoval and McKnight went 8-for-13 and 7-for-13, respectively, over the weekend.
Vanguard never trailed Arizona Christian in the series and out-scored the Firestorm 25-8 overall.
Baseball returns to the field on Wednesday at University of Antelope Valley.
-GOLDPRIDE-
