COSTA MESA, Calif. — Before the upcoming conference games this weekend, Vanguard University and University of Saint Katherine battled it out at Dean Harvey Field in a non-conference game. After a long nine innings, the Pride was bested by the Firebirds with a score of 5-4. With the loss, Vanguard drops to 6-8 overall and 4-2 in Golden State Athletic Conference play while USK improves to 10-5.
Eight pitchers went to work for the Lions while the Firebirds used five. Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) (1-3) and Tanner Bellamy (JR/Las Vegas, NV) pitched a little over one inning while Jakob Farmer (FR/Norwalk, CA), Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) and Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) each pitched one inning a piece. Taylor Wilson (FR/Keller, TX) and Jared Greer (FR/Anaheim, CA) saw some action on the mound and Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) pitched the final two innings of the day. Kashou gave up three hits and one run, and walked two. Despite the outcome, assistant coach Michael Ostrea said some good pitches came from the mound.
"We have five games this week so we're trying to use everybody efficiently," Ostrea said. "We did use a lot of pitchers and I thought they were efficient when they went out there. They did give up some untimely hits, like the home run to left, but pitching did pretty well." Ostrea said the main focus of the week is the upcoming GSAC series against San Diego Christian College. "We want to stay in good shape for conference. We're getting ready for the weekend so we want to get guys enough touches on the mound and more guys on the plate to be ready."
Saint Katherine put a run up early in the second inning, but was held at one. Vanguard denied the Firebirds the shutout in the third inning with a one run from Travis McFarland (SO/Corona, CA). McFarland reached base on a throwing error and advanced off a sac-bunt from Julio Rivera (JR/Puerto Rico). Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) stepped up to the plate and singled to left field and nab the RBI. The Firebirds put up three more runs in the fifth and seventh innings to lead 4-1, but the Pride responded with two runs in the seventh. Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) was hit by the pitch and advanced on McFarland's ground out to short. Rivera smacked one to left field to double and Perry followed suit and doubled to left center and bring Rivera in. Perry was left stranded on base as the inning came to a close. Vanguard allowed one more run from USK in the top of the eighth and responded with one run in the bottom of the inning. The final run of the day for the Lions came from a big solo home run from Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) with two outs on the board. The inning came to a close when Weeks grounded out to second and neither team scored in the ninth inning.
Perry logged three hits on the day and picked up two RBIs. Rivera went 1-3 at the plate and scored one run and Neufeld finished 1-4 in the box and also scored once.
Next Game: Friday, February 16th at San Diego Christian College at 2:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
