COSTA MESA, Calif. – With a buzz around the ballpark similar to playoff baseball, the #18 Lions and #25 Oaks faced off in a key conference double-header. Menlo (22-10, 9-6) took the first game 12-2 before Vanguard (21-7-1, 11-4) fought back to capture a 3-2 victory and took the series two games to one.
Game One: Menlo 12, Vanguard 2
Initially, the Lions looked to be riding high off the game from the previous night. They grabbed a quick 2-0 lead off a single from Jose Rojas (SR/Anaheim, CA) and a sacrifice RBI from Trai Patrick (JR/Everett, WA).
After that the momentum swung to the Oaks as they tied the game in the top of the fourth inning on a two run bomb over the right field fence. As the score remained deadlocked, Menlo blew the game open by throwing up nine runs in the eighth inning. MC tacked on another run in the ninth for the 10 run differential in the first game.
Starter Ryan Heinle (SR/Stockton, CA) (no decision) was one of five pitchers used by the Pride. He threw the first six innings allowing two earned runs and six hits. Christian Sheehan (JR/Redondo Beach, CA) is handed his first loss on the season for allowing the go ahead runs in the eighth frame. Michael Ostrea (SR/Buena Park, CA), Jake Mellenthin, and Matt SIlberman pitched the final six outs for the Blue and Gold.
At the plate, Brock Eissman (JR/San Clemente, CA) was 2-4 including a scored run and was the only Lion to have more than one hit on the game. Rojas reached base on three of his four credited at bats.
Game Two: Vanguard 3, Menlo 2
"After getting beat down pretty good in the first game we knew that we had to show up in the second contest. We had to put the first game in our rear view mirror and answer back, and we were able to grind out another tough victory against a solid conference team," Sandoval stated.
Fresh off such a high scoring affair, the tides turn and entering the bottom of the fourth inning there were no runs on the board. Rojas broke the 0-0 tie with a solo homer.
The lead would not last long as during their next at bat, the Oaks hit a two run blast to take the 2-1 advantage after 4.5 innings. Reflecting on the teams' mentality, they did not blink and fired right back. Rojas was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs punched in the inning. Patrick knocked a single to right field to score Brandon Sandoval (JR/Fallbrook, CA) and Bryce Wetherell (SO/Chattaroy, WA), which would be the decisive play in the game.
After five solid innings on the hill from Tyler Steele (FR/Kingsburg, CA) (7-0), Michael Jordan (SR/Murrieta, CA) came in and snatched his eighth save on the year and second of the weekend series. Sandoval shone bright at the plate going an efficient 2-3.
Sandoval went on to say, "Winning this game and winning this series shows me that our team is ready to take on the conference with a target on our back as we look to keep dominating conference play and ultimately win out the GSAC."
Vanguard switches right to a GSAC series that will have great effect on the conference title race. Westmont, sixth in the country and first in the GSAC standings, will travel down for a midweek showdown starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23rd. On the year, the Warriors are 22-4 and 12-2 in conference tilts.
-GOLD PRIDE-
