LEWISTON, Idaho - One day after playing a great opening game, the #10 Lions struggled through the second inning and found themselves losing 4-1 to #2 Faulkner of Alabama. Faulkner (49-13) stays in the winners bracket and the Blue and Gold (39-21) enters the elimination phase of the tournament.
Faulkner blew the game open in the top of the second inning scoring three runs, aided by two errors from the Pride. The first run was plated on a misplayed grounder to shallow right field. A single by Cody Sos brought the second run home and the third came on a misplayed bunt.
Vanguard and Faulkner would both tally one run each in the sixth inning to bring the final score to 4-1.
On the day, both teams had seven hits but the two errors by the Blue and Gold were the difference. Each squad stranded four runners on the base paths.
Scott Torrey (SR/Simi Valley, CA) received the start for the Pride and went 5.2 innings allowing four runs on six hits. Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) gave up only one hit versus eight batters faced in 2.1 frames on the hill. Michael Jordan (JR/Murrieta, CA) threw the final inning for the Pride.
Jack Charleston went the distance for Faulkner allowing seven hits and striking out four batters.
Offensively, Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) was 4-4 with the lone score for the Lions, the best stat line for either team.
Vanguard will play Saint Thomas University (Fla.) on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. and will need a victory to move forward in the NAIA World Series.
-GOLD PRIDE-
