COSTA MESA, Calif. — After dominating two weeks ago, preseason 20th ranked Vanguard Lions (2-0) went head to head with Benedictine-Mesa (1-3) to grab their second win of the season. The game started with Benedictine-Mesa getting a run in the first inning, but the Lions made their determination known and answered with two runs of their own. The rest of the game was a back and forth struggle that ended in Vanguard's favor, 7-6.

The first inning was a clear picture of how the rest of the game would play out. Benedictine-Mesa came out in the second inning and retook the lead which the kept until the fifth inning. In the fifth, Tanner Perry (JR/El Cajon, CA) hit a line drive up the middle to earn a two RBI single and tie the game. The tie was short lived as the Redhawks reclaimed it with two runs in the sixth. The Pride inched the score up, though. In the bottom of the sixth, Hunter White (SO/Galt, CA) was walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After White moved on to third courtesy of a single by Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA),  Bryce Wetherell (JR/Chattaroy, WA) drove him home with a sacrifice ground ball.

The seventh inning ramped things up for Vanguard as Brock Eissman (SR/San Clemente, CA) hit his first home run of the season and tied the game back up. With the momentum from the homer fueling the team, relief pitcher Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA) was able to hold of Benedictine-Mesa in the eighth and allow Wetherell to hit a RBI single and gain the advantage. Jake Mellenthin (SR/New Plymouth, ID)  came in to close out the ninth and held Benedictine-Mesa off, only allowing one hit.

Brandon Sandoval (SR/Fallbrook, CA), Eissman, and Elias-Calles all batted 2-4 for the day with Eissman's two hits earning three RBI's. Monty McCasland (SR/Bushland, TX) started the day and went 5 innings before handing the ball off to Lumanlan (1-0) who was awarded the win. Mellenthin grabbed the save.

Next Game: Saturday, January 28th against Benedictine-Mesa at 11:00 a.m. (Double Header)

-GOLD PRIDE-