COSTA MESA, Calif. — Vanguard University (RV) picked up its first win of the season and recorded its first ever victory on Dean Harvey Field over Bethesda University of California in a non-conference game with a score of 11-5. Vanguard improves to 1-1 on the season while the Flames drop to 1-2 overall.
Bethesda put up one run in the top of the first inning, but Vanguard stole the show in the bottom to earn 4 runs. Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) singled to center field to pick up his first RBI of the contest and a wild pitch from the Flames advanced two runners while Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) singled to shortstop to pick up his only RBI of the day. Lucas Martinez (SR/Fairfax, VA) took advantage of a wild pitch and posted a run, advancing Neufeld with two outs on the board. Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) closed out hits for the inning with a single fired out to left field to bring Neufeld home to round out the runs in the first. Bethesda posted another run in the top of the fourth and Vanguard responded with three of their own in the bottom. Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) obliterated a pitch into right field for a three-run home run to give the Lions a 7-2 advantage heading into the fifth inning. The Lions scored again in the sixth inning off a sac-fly from Michael Fuchs (SR/Irvine, CA) to bring Perry in and make the score 8-3.
Perry said the team focused on relaxing and playing calm. "We're getting into our groove for the regular season," Perry said. "We saw the ball well, we were patient — patient at the plate." The senior outfielder said the team will carry the momentum from the win into the next contest, but remain focused on playing their best game. "(We) don't get too high; don't get too low," Perry said. "(We'll) keep on grinding and do what we do best, and do what we have to do."
Perry's home run in the fourth inning set the stage for Elias-Calles in the bottom of the eighth who slammed the pitch into center field for a three-run home run to round out the number of runs for the Pride. Perry went 3-3 on the day and Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) was a perfect 2-2 at bat while Neufeld and Elias-Calles finished 2-4. Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) pitched five innings allowing six hits and two runs. Josiah Austin (FR/La Habra, CA), Tanner Bellamy (JR/Las Vegas, NV) and Jakob Jarmer each pitched an inning and Brandon Chambers (JR/Yorba Linda, CA) took the mound in the ninth to close things out. Kashou grabbed the win while Bethesda's pitcher took the loss. Vanguard had finished the day with 13 hits, no errors and eight players left on base while the Flames finished with 12 hits, two errors and 11 players left on base.
Next Game: Friday, January 26th against University of Antelope Valley at 2:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
