COSTA MESA, Calif. - Coming off their first loss of the season, the Lions (6-1, 3-1) bounced back and continued their fourth of a seven-game road trip with a thrilling 5-4 win in extra innings over the Warriors of William Jessup. Outfielder Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) led Vanguard with two hits and three runs batted in, including a solo home run.
Sean Isaac (SO/Redondo Beach, CA) started for VU and pitched six innings, striking out six batters and allowed two runs on six hits. Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) came in to relief for four innings and earned the victory. Junior righty Michael Jordan (JR/Murrieta, CA) recorded the save in the 11th inning.
Isaac allowed an early run in the bottom of the first. The Lions didn't get on the board until the top third when sophomore Brock Eissman belted a solo shot. The Warriors responded quickly in the bottom of the third by scoring a run on an RBI double, putting them up 2-1.
In the seventh, shortstop Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) led off the inning with a walk. With two outs and Rojas on second, David Stone (SR/Huntington Beach, CA) drove in Rojas with an RBI double. One batter later, Eissman singled to score Stone as the Lions now led 3-2. William Jessup managed to score one run on three hits off McKinnon in the bottom seventh to knot both teams at 3-3.
Both teams were quiet until the top of the 11th inning when Bret Collins (SR/Manhattan Beach, CA) led the inning with a double. Justin Davis (SR/Los Angeles, CA) pinch ran for Collins and scored on a Taylor McKnight (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) single. Shane Elias-Calles (SO/Mission Viejo, CA) pinch ran for McKnight and scored on a sacrifice fly by Eismann.
Michael Jordan came in to pitch in the bottom of the 11th and earned the save despite allowing a run in the final inning. William Jessup outhit The Pride, 12-8, but the Lions came out on top, 5-4.
The Lions will meet the Warriors again in a doubleheader Saturday, January 31. The first game will begin at 11:00 a.m.
-GOLDPRIDE-
