COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Vanguard Lions (16-8, 11-1 GSAC) came off Friday's win to finish out the weekend series against Hope International University (9-6, 7-5 GSAC) in a double header. With cloudy skies and a brisk breeze, the Lions got the desired result: a full sweep. The Lions out hit the Royals in game one with Vanguard getting 10 hits as opposed to Hope's four. The final score of game one was 4-1. Tyler Steele (SO/Kingsburg, CA) shined in game two, going six out of the seven innings, and gave his team room to go to work. Game two ended with a final score of 5-1.
Game One: Vanguard 4, Hope International 1
Vanguard took the lead in the bottom of the first, and added on their lead in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle by Brandon Sandoval (SR/Fallbrook, CA) that drove in Sage Voda (FR/Tehachapi, CA). After posting five innings of zeros, the Royals were able to score a run in the top of the sixth, but wouldn't be able to add any more. In the bottom of the sixth, Brock Eissman (SR/San Clemente, CA) hit his third home run of the season to give Vanguard a two run lead. The last run of the game came from a one RBI single to right field by Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA) in the bottom of the eight.
Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA) (4-1) started on the mound for the Lions in game one and was had a successful day. Lumanlan kept the Royals from scoring through the first five innings which allowed the Lions to focus on increasing their lead. By the end of the day, Lumanlan had an impressive outing. In 5.2 innings, Lumanlan had 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and 6 stikeouts. Lumanlan handed the ball over to Josh Bailly (JR/Union City. CA) in the sixth inning. Bailly went for two innings before Jake Mellenthin (SR/New Plymouth, ID) (6) took the mound. Mellenthin had three quick outs to shut down the Royals. Elias-Calles went 4-4 in game one, earning one RBI. The other six hits were earned by Sandoval, Eissman, and Michael Fuchs (JR/Irvine, CA) who all got two hits each.
Game Two: Vanguard 5, Hope International 1
Game two started off slow with both teams posting zeros in the first four innings. Steele held three perfect innings until Hope got a hit in the top of the fourth, but Steele picked off Brett Thompson to keep the Royals from scoring. The first and only run for Hope was scored in the top of the fifth, but Vanguard answered immediately. Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA) came up with Sandoval on second and hit a single to right field to drive Sandoval home. Eissman increased the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a three RBI double to center field, and then ran home on a throwing error by the Royals. After six innings, the final score was posted, 5-1.
Steele followed his shutout last week with another solid outing, earning his sixth win of the season. Steele went six innings and gave up 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walk, and earned 3 strikeouts. After Steele's six innings, Eissman stepped onto the mound to close the game.
Next Game: Tuesday, March 7th against Bethesda University of California at 2:30 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
