SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Despite having to be rescheduled due to rain, Vanguard (5-4) traveled over to Santa Clarita to play the number one seed, Lewis-Clark State College (2-2). Vanguard held their own until the top of the fifth but fell to the Warriors, 9-3. Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton,CA) (1-1) started on the mound for Vanguard and earned four strike outs in his four innings before handing it off. The Warriors, the two time defending National Champions, are a powerhouse program from storied Lewiston, Idaho.
The game seemed to be an even match at the beginning. Lewis-Clark started off the game by earning a run in the first inning, but Vanguard answered right back with a RBI single by Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA). The third inning saw a hint of trouble with Lewis-Clarke throwing up two runs on a home run, but Tanner Perry (JR/El Cajon, CA) came along and answered with a two-run homer of his own. The Lions held the Warriors off for a few innings, but Lewis-Clark got a run in the top of the sixth and Vanguard couldn't come back. Lewis-Clark put up five more runs before the last out.
After Camacho's four innings, four other pitchers took the mound for Vanguard. Christian Sheehan (SR/Redondo Beach, CA) and Tyler Steele (SO/Kingsburg, CA) came in for one inning and each got a strike out before handing the ball to Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA). Lumanlan stayed in for an inning and picked up two strikeouts before handing the ball over to Jake Mellenthin (SR/New Plymouth, ID) to close out the game. Mellenthin struck out three batters.
Next Game: Saturday, February 11th against William Jessup University at 11:00 a.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
