SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Vanguard Lions (34-20) were eliminated from the 2015 Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday night. Loses to The Master's College (42-10) and Concordia (41-15) knocked the Blue and Gold out.
The Master's College 8, Vanguard 4
In the opening game for the Lions, the GSAC Champion Mustangs from The Master's College defeated Vanguard 8-4.
The Lions kicked off the game by scoring the first run on an RBI ground out by Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA). TMC responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first frame.
It went from bad to worse as the Mustangs tacked on an additional five runs in the next inning courtesy of two errors, to build a commanding 8-1 advantage.
Vanguard kept plugging away scoring a run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Eissman, plating Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA). The Pride managed to score two more runs in the top of the eighth inning as Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) jacked a two run shot to center field.
Starting for the Lions, Sean Isaac (JR/Redondo Beach, CA) (8-5) gave up six hits and three earned runs getting the first four outs of the game. Reliever Roberto Johnson (SO/San Marcos, CA) threw the next six innings giving up only two hits. Michael Ostrea (JR/Buena Park, CA) got the final two outs for the Blue and Gold.
Inside the batters box, Rojas was 3-4 with two RBI and a scored run. Eissman added a 2-4 stat line with two RBI and a scored run, while Sandoval was 2-5 and crossed the plate for a pair of runs.
Concordia 12, Vanguard 2
Needing to win to stay alive in the double elimination format, the Lions could not defeat the bats of the Eagles.
Despite the lopsided count, the scoring started off slowly for CUI. They scored only one run in the first inning and did not score again until the fourth frame. The runs came on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt.
Concordia tacked on another run in their next at bat, before scoring two more the next inning to take a 6-0 lead. The Lions first score came in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA).
Vanguard scored its only other run in the top of the eighth inning on a single to center field by Sandoval.
Then the lead ballooned to 12-2 as the Eagles scored six runs in the bottom portion of that inning. One came on a solo homerun, the next two on a single to center, and the final three on another home run to left field.
Kevin Bettencourt (JR/Modesto, CA) was 2-3 with the bat in his hands. Eissman and Keating each went 2-4 with the later adding an RBI and a scored run.
On the hill, Ryan Heinle (JR/Stockton, CA) (3-2) received the opening nod lasting four innings with five hits and three runs scored. Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) threw two frames giving up four hits and three runs. Sam Frakes (SR/Eagle Rock, CA) and Shaniel Rivera three the final six outs and each gave up three runs on two hits.
With today's two loses, the Lions will wait until the NAIA Postseason Tournament participants are announced, to see if they receive an at large berth.
-GOLD PRIDE-
