COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard (7-2, 4-2) continued their series with William Jessup (2-4, 2-4) with a high scoring doubleheader Saturday afternoon. After last night's thriller in extra innings, the Lions split the doubleheader losing the first game, 9-7, and winning the second, 12-5. The Pride went on to win the series 2-1. Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) had an impressive day for The Pride as he went 5-for-9 with five RBI in the two contests.
Game One: Vanguard 7, William Jessup 9
Scott Torrey (SR/Simi Valley, CA) got the start in the first game and pitched five and a third innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Taylor McKnight (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) went 3-for-5 with a run, Paul Keating 2-for-5 with 2 RBI, and Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and a solo home run.
Leading 5-3, Vanguard saw trouble in the bottom sixth when Torrey was pulled out of the game for Ryan Heinle (JR/Stockton, CA). Heinle pitched the final two outs but came out of the inning allowing two runs to even the game up at five runs apiece.
The Lions answered in the top seventh when Paul Keating lined one up the middle to score Jose Rojas and Bret Collins (SR/Manhattan Beach, CA). Lions lead 7-5.
Trouble struck again for the Lions when the Warriors came to bat in the bottom seventh. Michael Ostrea (JR/Buena Park, CA) began the inning allowing a leadoff solo home run, William Jessup's first home run in its program's young history. Ostrea then allowed a single. The Warriors capitalized on a flurry of Lions mistakes after a wild pitch and a couple errors. William Jessup scored two more runs before Matt Silberman (JR/Murrieta, CA) came in for relief. VU allowed one last run on a wild pitch and that proved to be the fate for the Lions in game one, losing 9-7.
Game Two: Vanguard 12, William Jessup 5
The second of the double saw Shaniel Rivera on the mound to start for the Lions. Rivera lasted only two innings as he allowed five runs on four hits, struck out two, and walked two batters. Jordan Moak (SR/Sulphur, LA) notched the win when he relieved for four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
Tied up 5-5 through four innings, Michael Flores (SR/Dinuba, CA) scored on a Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) rbi single in the top of the fifth. Willam Jessup pulled their pitcher after Sandoval's single loaded up the bases. With three men on, Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) drove a pitch to deep right center for a grand slam. Eissman's grand slam home run was his second home run in two days. The five-run fifth inning sealed the deal for the Lions in their 12-5 come-from-behind victory over the Warriors.
The Pride outhit the Warriors, 12-6, in the win to take the three-game series, 2-1.
Up next for the Lions is when they travel to the University of Redlands on Wednesday, February 4, to round out their road trip. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
-GOLDPRIDE-
