COSTA MESA, Calif. — After a one game break from Golden State Athletic Conference action, Vanguard University got right back into the swing of things, hosting No. 14-ranked The Master's University for a three-game conference series. The series started off strong in favor of Vanguard who defeated the Mustangs with a score of 7-1. Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) led the Pride on the day, going 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and picking up two RBI. Jordan Dreibelbis (SR/Las Vegas, NV) pitched eight complete innings, striking out five and walking three, giving up one run. Jakob Farmer (FR/Norwalk, CA) closed out the final inning, giving up no hits, striking out two and walking one on four batters faced.
Dreibelbis said today was about proving themselves. "Coming into this, I was trying to throw the best I could and do what I could control, and let the hitters take care of what they could control." Dreibelbis said because of the solid at-bats, he was able to relax knowing there was a six-run lead behind him. "We're finally coming alive which is good. I felt like I had all three pitches working. With this wind, I know the batters hands are getting cold and I've played in cold places before so I knew I could pitch through it." The confidence Dreibelbis had in his teammates extended throughout the dugout. "You don't have to be showy about being confident; you can just do it instead of saying it and I felt we did a good job of doing that today."
The Pride outhit TMU 10-5 on the day and kept the Mustangs at bay with a steady defense. The first run of the day came early in the fourth inning from Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ), who scored on a wild pitch. In the same inning, Weeks singled, advanced to second on an error and picked up an RBI with Michael Fuchs' run in. Weeks scored the final run of the inning on a Joe Johnson (FR/Medford, OR) single to right field. Weeks recorded another run for the Pride in the sixth inning on a solo homer out to deep left field. The action picked back up again in the eighth, with Lucas Martinez (SR/Fairfax, VA) leading off and doubling to left field. Weeks was walked, and Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA) booked it to third on a stolen base. Julio Rivera (JR/Puerto Rico) grounded out to short, but sent Wetherell in to score. Weeks took advantage of two wild pitches, first by advancing to third base and again by advancing home on the pitch for the final run of the day.
Next Game: Saturday, February 24th against The Master's University at 11:00 a.m. (DH)
-GOLD PRIDE-
