REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Meeting up against the top seeded Hope International Royals with a berth in the 2017 GSAC Conference Tournament Championship Game, the third seed Lions could not find the offensive firepower from the previous day. HIU took the game by a 6-2 count and forces the Pride to win the elimination game tomorrow at 11:00 AM for the right to play Hope International once again.
The Royals hit the board first in the top of the second inning taking advantage of a fielding error by the Lions defense and a subsequent double from Broussard. HIU added to its lead two innings later off a two run homer from Davis. Trailing 3-0, the Blue and Gold reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning as Trai Patrick (SR/Everett, WA) hit a leadoff home run to close it to a two run game. Hope International would not let the Pride get any closer as they answered right back with a pair of runs thanks to consecutive doubles from the Royals. Vanguard scored its final run in the bottom half of the eighth inning off an RBI groundout from Brock Eissman (SR/San Clemente, CA) who pushed the pinch runner, Bryce Wetherell (JR/Chattaroy, WA), across home plate. The Royals were not done swinging away as Thompson fired off a solo shot to right field in the ninth inning, the final score of the game.
Chris Lumanlan (SR/Irvine, CA) (8-2) was awarded just his second loss of the year allowing four earned runs off nine hits. During his five full innings on the hill, he struck out six batters. Christian Sheehan (SR/Redondo Beach, CA) saw action for 3.1 innings before Tyler Skinner (JR/Dos Palos, CA) entered for the final two outs. Inside the box, the Vanguard offensive tallied eight hits with two eeach coming off the bat of Patrick and Shane Elias-Calles (JR/Mission Viejo, CA).
Next Game: Tomorrow, Tuesday May 9th against the winner of the Menlo/Master's matchup at 11:00 a.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
