COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Lions (15-9, 11-7) were unable to take a game in the important GSAC series with the visiting Concordia University Eagles (21-3, 16-2), dropping both games by the score of 3-2 in today's doubleheader. Errors ended up being the difference in both games, as the Lions totaled five of them on the day, accounting for four of the six runs given up.
Game One: Vanguard 2, Concordia 3:
The first game of the day started well for the Lions, as Scott Torrey (SR/Simi Valley, CA) took the mound and took command of the Eagles hitters. Torrey allowed eight hits over his seven innings of work with six strikeouts and zero earned runs. During that time the Lions were able to provide some support and get a run across the plate in the fifth inning. Brett Collins led things off with a single into right field and was able to advance to third after a passed ball and a wild pitch. Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) was the one to get Collins home when he slapped a single into left field, giving the Lions the 1-0 lead.
Torrey continued to pitch well, but a throwing error on a bunt in the seventh inning would tie things up at 1-1. However the tie would not last long as Keating would again get things going with a lead off single in the bottom of the inning. Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) would lay down a sacrifice bunt to third to advance Keating into scoring position, and that would pay off when Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) singled into center field to advance Keating across the plate, giving the Lions the 2-1 lead.
Unfortunately the Eagles would strike back in the eighth inning, capitalizing on two errors and a wild pitch that accounted for two runs and giving the visitors the 3-2 advantage, all of which were unearned runs. The Lions were unable to find another run in the contest, and ended up taking the 3-2 loss despite the pitching staff allowing zero earned runs.
Despite the loss, Keating had a good game at the plate, going three-for-five with one run and one RBI.
Game Two: Vanguard 2, Concordia 3 (14 Innings):
The nightcap ended up being quite the marathon, going 14 innings and lasting just over three and a half hours. In a game that was only supposed to last seven innings, Jordan Moak (SR/Sulphur, LA) got the nod on the mound and ended up pitching a strong ten innings. He allowed eight hits over those ten innings allowing two runs, one of which was earned.
The Lions took no time in taking the lead, plating a run in the first inning. Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) led off the inning with a single into center field and advanced to second after Rojas grounded out. After a David Stone (SR/Huntington Beach, CA) walk, Collins would send Sandoval home with a single into right field, giving the Lions the early 1-0 lead. Moak would hold off the Eagles hitters until the third inning when back to back doubles tied things up at 1-1, They would not finish there, as a throwing error from the Lions allowed another runner to cross the plate, giving the Eagles the 2-1 lead.
The next few innings saw the Lions struggle to find any offense, but Justin Davis (SR/Los Angeles, CA) would tie things up at 2-2 with a two-out homerun in the sixth inning. That would be the last bit of offense from both teams for the next six innings, as both bullpens pitched well. Sam Frakes (SR/Eagle Rock, CA) would be the one to come in and provide much needed relief for Moak, and in his four innings of work he struck out four batters and allowed four hits. The Lions were unable to help him out offensively, as Frakes could not hold off the Eagles hitters past the fourteenth inning, giving up the winning run on a fielder choice play and giving them their second 3-2 win on the day
Vanguard will look to rebound with a mid week clash against Bethesda University of California on Tuesday, March 3. The game will be played at Vanguard with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30pm.
-GOLDPRIDE-
