COSTA MESA, Calif. — After losing the first game in the series, Vanguard (5-3) game back to face Biola (5-1) in a double header. Vanguard struggled in the first game to get their bats going, and were out to prove themselves. The first game was a battle of will between the bullpens, and Vanguard lost 4-3. The second game, however, was over by the fourth inning as Vanguard bats began to pick up speed. The Lions won the second game, 13-3.
Game One: Biola 4, Vanguard 3
The first game came out as a battle between pitchers as Monty McCasland (SR/Bushland, TX) (0-1) and Micah Beyer (2-0) went head to head. The first two innings were quick as McCasland retired three in a row and Beyer answered by walking Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA), but grabbed the third out quickly. The second inning was similar, and both teams posted zeros. Biola started the scoring by bringing in a run in the third inning. Biola added to that lead in the fourth, so Vanguard answered with a triple by Josh Weeks (FR/Murrieta, CA) to drive in Patrick. Biola kept their lead, though, adding two more runs to make it 4-1 at the end of the seventh inning.
Vanguard tried to rally in the eighth. Brandon Sandoval (SR/Fallbrook, CA), who was hit by a pitch, reached third on a single by Tanner Perry (JR/El Cajon, CA) and was driven home by ground ball courtesy of Patrick. Michael Fuchs (JR/Irvine, CA) came up to hit a single to second base that brought Perry home, but that would be the final run of the game. The first game ended 4-3, giving Biola the second win of the series. McCasland went six innings before handing the ball over to Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA).
Game Two: Vanguard 13, Biola 3
While the first game was a pitcher's game, the second game was all about the bats. The first inning was fairly quiet, but the second inning saw a whole new dugout from the Lions. Fuchs started off the inning with a single up the middle, and Weeks followed in suit with a single to center field. Sam Neufeld (SO/Indio, CA) walked to load the bases, and Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA) doubled to left field to drive in two runs. Sandoval hit a ground ball to bring in Neufeld, and Perry hit a double down the left field line to bring in Elias-Calles. At the end of the second inning, Vanguard was up 4-0.
That lead would last the entire game. Vanguard added two runs in the third, and Biola answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, but that's all they'd be able to add on. In the bottom of the fourth, Patrick hit a three-run homer and Jacob Leal (JR/Grapevine, TX) hit a single down the left field line to drive in Neufeld and Dylan Ramie (SR/Ewa Beach, HI). Sandoval hit a single, but advanced to second on the throw, and drove in Leal to end the 4th inning, 12-3. The Lions weren't done yet. In the fifth, Sam Neufeld singled to left field to bring home Ramie to grab the last run of the day.
The Lions saw six Biola pitchers in the second game, none of which were in for two innings. Tyler Steele (SO/Kingsburg, CA) (2-0) started on the mound for the Lions and went five innings before handing it over to Michael Kashou (FR/Anaheim, CA). Kashou was on the mound for one inning and picked up three strikeouts before handing the ball over to Jake Mellenthin (SR/New Plymouth, ID). Mellenthin grabbed two strikeouts of his own before the final out.
Next Game: Monday, February 6th against Lewis-Clarke State College at 2:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
