COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard, currently ranked 22nd in the nation via the NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll, has the first blemish put on its record this season as the University of Redlands defeated them 6-5. The Lions (4-1) received strong offense from Jose Rojas (SR/Anaheim, CA) and Brock Eissman (JR/San Clemente, CA). The shortstop was 2-3 at the plate while batting in three runs and scoring one with his legs; the outfielder was 204 with an RBI and scored run as well.
The momentum from last weekend didn't stop as they blasted a flurry of runs on their first at bat. Eissman knocked a double to deep right field which scored a run and then on the next pitch Rojas jacked a three run shot over the right field fence. This gave the Pride a fast 4-0 advantage.
"We got off to a great start today, but credited goes to Redlands for staying the course and capitalizing on our mistakes," Head Skipper Rob Pegg stated after the final out.
During the Bulldogs next at bat, they got back two runs and cut it to a 4-2 score. The Pride reloaded and tossed out another pitcher with the in the bottom of the third frame. A few unlikely bounces of the ball in the infield enabled Redlands to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning. Before the period ended, they had snatched a two run lead.
Two runs had already been punched in the bottom of the seventh when a walk, hit by pitch and single by Rojas juiced the bases. Justin Vega (JR/Chatsworth, CA) crossed home plate off a wild pitch to cut it to a 6-5 score. Michael Ostrea (SR/Buena Park, CA) went threw up, three down in the top of the next inning to keep Vanguard in the hunt.
Vanguard had a chance in the bottom of the ninth inning to steal the game, but the offensive magic from earlier in the contest had evaporated, leaving the winning run stuck on the base paths.
Vega stated that, "Today was a rough loss. I felt that we beat ourselves as we made a lot of small mistakes that hurt us in the end. But they're mistakes that we'll learn from and move on for the rest of season.
The Blue and Gold will meet a known foe on Friday and Saturday this week as Biola plays host to a non-conference series this weekend. Game one is on February 5th beginning with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.
-GOLD PRIDE-
