COSTA MESA, Calif. — Vanguard University recorded their first series sweep of the season against No. 12-ranked The Master's University after dominating the field through windy conditions in the first game of the series, and fighting to the finish in the doubleheader.
"This was a good series," said Josh Weeks. "It was a hard series, but our pitching did really well. Our pitching kept us in the game. Our offense picked it up in the first two games, but in the third we were met with a good left handed pitcher and saw a different angle." Weeks said the Pride's speed pulled them through. "Base running was key today," Weeks said. "We took the extra bases when we needed them.
Game 1: Vanguard 9, The Master's University 8
After powering through some adversity and making some adjustments on the field, Vanguard stepped up their game when it mattered most. Deep in the eighth inning after battling to tie the game at 8-8 in the seventh, Vanguard jumped on the opportunity to seize the lead on Bryce Wetherell's run. Wetherell, who pinch ran for Tanner Perry, saw his golden opportunity at the hands of a Chad Sutton single. Sutton doubled early in the first, picking up his first RBI of the day on Shane Elias-Calles' run. Momentum kept building in the second inning as Lucas Martinez and Joe Johnson put hits away. Johnson's double allowed Wetherell to score and Johnson scored shortly after on a single from Tanner Perry. The Mustangs responded with one run in the third and Vanguard matched it in the bottom of the inning with a run from Michael Fuchs. Vanguard built on its lead in the fourth inning with another run from Johnson, and again in the fifth with one run from Fuchs.
Ryan Daugherty (4-0) closed out the contest on the mound and pitched two good innings, giving up no hits, no runs and struck out four batters on six batters faced. Prior to Daugherty's appearance, Michael Kashou pitched four innings and gave up three hits and four runs. Kashou walked one batter and struck out two. Johnson finished game one 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs for the Lions. Martinez logged a 2-for-2 performance in the box and Perry was 2-for-4.
Game 2: Vanguard 2, The Master's University 1
Schyuler Hill (3-2) pitched a big six innings for the Pride, allowing three hits and one run, walked four and struck out four on 22 batters faced. Alex Camacho took the mound in the final inning, striking out one batter on five batters faced.
The two runs came early for the Pride in the second inning, first from Travis McFarland and again from Johnson. Perry stepped up to the plate and reached on a fielder's choice, and McFarland scored. Perry stole second, and Johnson darted home on the throw. McFarland, Johnson and Fuchs went 1-for-2 at the plate and Elias-Calles finished game two 2-for-3 in the box.
Next Game: Tuesday February 27th against Marymount California University at 2:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
