COSTA MESA, Calif. – The #11 Lions picked up where they left off yesterday as they completed the sweep against the Warriors in double header action by the tune of 10-5 in the first game and 3-0 in the second game. Vanguard (34-9, 19-5) gave the fans something to cheer about throughout the day as William Jessup (3-31, 3-21) was unable to keep up with the abundance of scoring the Pride was generating.
Game One: Vanguard 10, William Jessup 5
Ryan Heinle (SR/Stockton, CA) started the day off for the Blue and Gold and compiled three strikeouts over the course of five innings. On offense, the Lions picked up eight team RBIs in the game and buried the Warriors early and made it impossible for them to come back. The action started off early in the game as the score was already tied at four apiece by the completion of the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning, the Blue and God started to increase their gap against the Warriors with a single from Brock Eissman (JR/San Clemente, CA) to get on base.
The Lions continued this momentum with Kody Wright (SO/Bakersfield, CA) getting on base, along with Dylan Ramie (JR/Ewa Beach, HI) walking which juiced the bases for the Lions. With all of the pressure on the Warriors' pitcher, the Blue and Gold took advantage of a critical error from the Warriors' shortstop that led to both Eissman and Shane Elias-Calles (SO/Mission Viejo, CA), who was pinch running for Wright, running home for the score to give them a 6-4 lead. The Lions were able to extend this lead later on in the eighth inning with a three run inning that included Paul Keating (SR/Oceanside, CA) picking up two RBI's.
Game Two: Vanguard 3, William Jessup 0
Still excited form the win earlier in the day, the Lions put the Warriors away early to seal the series sweep in game two by the tune of a 3-0 shutout. The Blue and Gold faithful made it difficult for the Warriors as they cheered on the great play of their Lions. Tyler Steele (FR/Kingsburg, CA) (9-0) pitched the entire second game and had a great game with four strikeouts. Trai Patrick (JR/Everett, WA) played a great game with two RBIs off three at bats.
They were able to finish the fight against the Warriors with a big third inning that consisted of Matt Harris (SR/Seaside, CA) taking advantage of one of the Warriors three errors in the game to reach second base. Patrick then set the crowd into a frenzy with homer that brought both him and Harris in for the score. After this great team effort, the Blue and Gold ended the game with good play from the outfield that made sure the Warriors could not score off of any of their four hits on the game.
Next up the Lions is a matchup against University of Antelope Valley (33-13, 12-3) on Tuesday April 19th at 2:30 p.m. This contest will mark the final non-conference game of the year for Vanguard before the final six-game sprint in the GSAC slate.
-GOLD PRIDE-
