SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Vanguard, the preseason 20th ranked team in the NAIA, travel back up to The Master's University (6-10, 1-5) for a double-header to wrap up the weekend series. After securing a 7-3 victory on Thursday, the score of the first game was 13-2 in favor of the Mustangs. But, the Pride (10-5, 5-1) rallied back for a 5-4 victory to win the second game and edge out TMU, currently ranked 11th in the nation, 2-1 in the series.
Game One: The Master's 13, Vanguard 2
The high scoring total for the home team was not reflected for the majoring of the contest. Singular runs were scored in the first, fourth, and sixth innings to give TMU a 3-0 edge entering the bottom of the seventh inning. After they blasted five runs on the board to take a commanding lead, the Lions fired back with one of their own. That same math happened in the next at-bats as well to give the Mustangs an 11 run edge. Brandon Sandoval (SR/Fallbrook, CA), Brock Eissman (SR/San Clemente, CA), and Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA) each batted 2-4 on the day and combined to score the two runs for the Blue and Gold. Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA) (2-1) tossed the first six innings allowing seven hits but only three scored. Christian Sheehan (SR/Redondo Beach, CA) and Josh Baily were batted around to allow five runs on four hits. Tyler Skinner (JR/Dos Palos, CA) rounded out the final two innings on the mound.
Game Two: Vanguard 5, The Master's 4
Unlike the prior game, the action picked up right away as the Lions scored two runs in their first trip to the plate. Eissman fired off a double to left center field and was brought home on an RBI double up the middle by Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA). Michael Fuchs (JR/Irvine, CA) then smacked a single to left field with pushed Patrick across home plate. TMU answered right back scoring three runs during their attempts at the plate. After exchanging zeroes in the second inning, the Pride was back on the attack during the third frame. Back to back singles from Sandoval and Tanner Perry (JR/El Cajon, CA) put runners on the corners with Eissman coming to the plate. The right fielder pushed the ball into left field to score Sandoval and move Perry over a base. Patrick came up with another RBI single and the third run was scored on a ground out to the shortstop by Fuchs. Holding a 5-3 edge, the Mustangs could only chip away one more run (doing so in the bottom of the third inning) before the teams exchanged blank innings for the rest of the game.
The Lions recorded 11 hits on the day with three coming off the bat of Patrick and two each from Sandoval and Eissman. Tyler Steele (SO/Kingsburg, CA) (3-0) earned the win for his four innings of work before Eissman struck out five batters over his three innings of work on the mound.
Next Game: Wednesday, February 20th at the University of Antelope Valley
-GOLD PRIDE-
