SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Lions (9-4, 4-0) rebounded nicely from a midweek downer by taking on #11 ranked The Master's University (5-9, 0-4) for the first game of a weekend series. The three-game slate pushed the Blue and Gold on the road for the first series in Golden State Athletic Conference play.
Picking up the action in the second inning, the Pride heads up to bat with the score tied 0-0. Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA) records the first hit on the day for the team, a double, and then is moved over by a ground out from Michael Fuchs (JR/Irvine, CA). Patrick then scores off Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA)' groundout. Vanguard held the lead until the bottom of the fourth inning, where TMU then went up 2-1 on runs after a double by Scott Savage. The Mustangs added another run in the fifth inning; initially taking a 3-1 lead, but that would end the tallies on the day for the home team. Vanguard however was just getting started. Moving into the top of the seventh inning, Patrick doubled for the second time on the day forcing runners on second and third base. Fuchs cleared the base baths with a double on his own, moving the game to a 3-3 tie and giving the Pride all of the momentum. Then, during their next trip to the plate, Vanguard put up a game sealing four runs in the frame. Run one came off a single from Brandon Sandoval (SR/Fallbrook, CA) while the second run came off the bat of Tanner Perry (JR/El Cajon, CA). Finally, runs three and four came off another double from Fuchs.
Monty McCasland (SR/Bushland, TX) was given the rock to start the day on the mound and pitched the first three innings allowing two runs. Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton,CA) saw action for an inning before Kurt Gairing (JR/Corona, CA) was called out from the bullpen. Josh Bailly (JR/Union City. CA) saw two batters and then handed control over to Jake Mellenthin (SR/New Plymouth, ID) who pitched two scoreless innings earning the win on the day. At the plate, Patrick and Fuchs combined for four of the Lions seven hits while Fuchs posted more RBI's (4) than The Master's team did (3). Shane Elias-Calles reached base twice on drawn walks.
Next Game: Saturday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. against #11 The Master's University (DH)
-GOLD PRIDE-
