COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard hosted Bethesda Wednesday afternoon and improved to 17-9 on the season after defeating the Flames, 10-5. Justin Vega (SO/Chatsworth, CA) went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) batted 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) topped off the win with a grand slam to seal the Lion victory.
The win was credited to Vanguard starter Shaniel Rivera after the junior righty tossed four scoreless innings and fanned four Bethesda batters. Rivera is now 3-0 on the year.
Vanguard scored the first run of the game in the bottom second when Paul Keating came home via RBI groundout. Later in the 5th, Bret Collins (SR/Manhattan Beach, CA) rounded third via wild pitch. Two batters later, Justin Vega singles in David Stone (SR/Huntington Beach, CA) across home plate.
Up 3-0, Vanguard put up another run after Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) scored on a Stone RBI single. After allowing two runs, The Pride threatened yet again in the bottom seventh and scored two more runs off three hits, as the scoreboard showed a 6-2 Lions lead.
Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) would allow three runs in relief effort to narrow the Lion lead 6-5 heading into the bottom eighth. The Lions exploded in the bottom half when they eliminated any chance of a Bethesda comeback. The Lions registered four runs, three off of a Brock Eissman three-run shot. Vanguard would end up taking the game, 10-5.
The Lions will hit the road this week for a three-game series at The Master's. The first game will be on Friday, March 6, at 2:00 p.m.
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