COSTA MESA, Calif. – The 13th ranked Vanguard Lions (36-12, 21-7) bounced back from a rough outing the previous weekend by beating Biola (27-24, 14-14) with a score of 10-4. Sean Isaac (SR/Redondo Beach, CA) secured his 13th win of the season lasting six innings and striking out seven batters.
Up until the fifth inning, it looked as if the Pride would run away with the contest. They had built up a 5-0 advantage before the Eagles would reach the scoreboard. During their first trip to the plate, Brandon Sandoval (JR/Fallbrook, CA) slide home and score off the sacrifice fly from Jose Rojas (SR/Anaheim, CA). Matt Harris (SR/Seaside, CA) scored the second run of the contest off a single to right field off the Bat of Sam Neufeld (FR/Indio, CA), who was then brought home by Sandoval's right field single.
Moving into the third inning, the Blue and Gold added to more runs to their cushion on RBI singles from Paul Keating (SR/Oceanside, CA) and Harris – scoring Brock Eissman (JR/San Clemente, CA) and Keating on the respective plays. In the top of the fifth inning, the Eagles began to mount their comeback as they scored two runs. After a single score by the Pride, BU again doubled up a pair of runs and had closed the game to 6-4.
It took a few trips to the plate, but the Lions responded and put the game out of reach with four more scores in the eighth inning. Vanguard dominated the opposition at the plate marking a 15-6 difference in hits during the nine innings of play.
On the mound, Michael OStrea took over for the seventh and eighth innings after Isaac's departure. Ostrea allowed no hits across the seven batters he faced. Christian Sheehan (JR/Redondo Beach, CA) pitched the final three outs for the Blue and Gold.
In the box, five members of the squad had multiple hits on the day, while the nine RBI's were spread across eight players. Sandoval and Keating both scored two runs during the affair. The Lions drew four walks on the game, all by different players.
"It feels great to go out and get the bats going again after a rough weekend," Rojas alluded to after the game. "With tomorrow being Senior Day we hope to have fun and stick to our game plan, doing what we do best."
Tomorrow, April 30th marks the final home contest of the year for the Lions as they host Biola at 11:00 a.m. After today's GSAC slate it has been determined that Westmont College will be the 2016 regular season Champion and host the upcoming conference tournament.
-GOLD PRIDE-
