SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Vanguard (14-6, 11-4) capped off the weekend series by splitting Saturday's doubleheader. In the first game, Brock Eismann went 2-for-5 with four RBI and a home run to lead the Lions in a comeback victory, 6-5. Game two ended with the Lions coming up short in a low scoring affair, 1-0.
Game One: Vanguard 6, Westmont 5
The Lions overcame a three-run deficit when The Pride rallied to score four runs in the ninth inning to beat Westmont. Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA)'s late-game heroics consisted of a three-run homer to lift the Lions past the Warriors, 6-5.
Trailing 5-2, Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) led off the ninth with a walk against Westmont's newly inserted pitcher, Sam Sheehan. With Westmont one out away from a victory, VU's Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) drew a two out walk and Justin Vega (SO/Chatsworth, CA) followed with an RBI single. With Westmont still leading 5-3, Sheehan had a chance to close the game out with Brock Eissman at the plate. Eismann would go yard for a three-run home run to give Vanguard a late 6-5 lead.
In the bottom ninth, senior righty Sam Frakes (SR/Eagle Rock, CA) earned his fourth save of the season to clinch the dramatic win for the Lions, 6-5. Michael Ostrea (JR/Buena Park, CA) (1-1) was credited with the win for his single-inning performance in the eighth.
Game Two: Vanguard 0, Westmont 1
Despite being outhit by the Lions 4-3, the Warriors scored a run when they needed it most in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Westmont's Blake Mathias grounded out to bring home Michael Frigon for the late lead, 1-0.
Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) led off the top seventh with a single for the Lions. Rojas would reach second by a Justin Davis (SR/Los Angeles, CA) sac bunt, resulting in Davis reaching base safely after a Westmont error. Rojas and Davis would advance bases after a wild pitch to put two runners in scoring position with no outs for game one's hero, Brock Eissman. Eissman struck out swinging, Taylor McKnight (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) grounded out, and Kevin Bettencourt (JR/Modesto, CA) flied out to prevent Vanguard from two consecutive come-from-behind wins. Westmont beat Vanguard, 2-0.
Jordan Moak (SR/Sulphur, LA) had a solid outing for the Lions, pitching five and a third innings, allowing three hits and the game-deciding run in the sixth inning. Moak received his first loss of the season to give him a 3-1 record on the year.
The Lions will return home to face Corban University on Tuesday, February 24. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.
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