COSTA MESA, Calif. — After extending yesterday's game into the morning and securing a huge win for the team, the Lions came into the rest of the day a bit rocky. The Pride dropped Game 1 of the regularly scheduled doubleheader but found their groove to come back and win Game 2 by a significant margin to split the day with Menlo College and win the series 2-1. With the wins, Vanguard improves to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in GSAC play while Menlo drops to 5-5 on the season and 1-2 in conference.
Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) said the team worked on meshing together and finding their chemistry in preparation for their first conference series of the season. Elias-Calles said the chemistry was seen in the energy pulled from the result of the first game, however he noted their emotions may have gotten the best of them in the second game of the day. "The first win was such an emotional high that we came out a little bit flat on the second game," he said. "We had a rough patch in (Game 1), but the last game was really fun and the bats finally got going." The Pride bounced back for the win in Game 2 through a lot of determination. "We supported each other better. We've been working on being a team and picking each other up and really investing in one another. We hit a lot better and the energy in the dugout was better." Elias-Calles said overall the series was a good experience for the team. "It's a good start to conference for us. We really focused on pouring into each other, pouring into the Word and trying to honor God in all that we do."
Game 1: Menlo 11, Vanguard 1
Menlo sought vengeance for the result of the 13-inning Vanguard victory and jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Oaks played a heavy defense and continued to build on their score, posting eight more runs by the bottom of the seventh inning. Vanguard saw their only run of the game in the seventh inning from Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA), who stole third just in time for Travis McFarland (SO/Corona, CA) to step up to the plate. McFarland singled to left center to pick up the RBI and Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA) went down swinging to conclude the inning. Menlo posted their eleventh run in the eighth inning and neither team scored in the ninth.
Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) (0-1) pitched just over four innings, giving up nine hits and five runs. Jakob Farmer (FR/Norwalk, CA), Tanner Bellamy (JR/Las Vegas, NV), Jared Freer, Taylor Wilson (FR/Keller, TX) and Trip Vick (FR/Burleson, TX) pitched one inning a piece.
Game 2: Vanguard 9, Menlo 1
Vanguard wasted no time getting on the board and posted two runs in the first inning. Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) and Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) both scored off a double from McFarland. The third inning was busy for the Lions who put up four more runs. Lucas Martinez (SR/Fairfax, VA) singled to second base and Bryce Wetherell took his place to pinch run. Chad Sutton followed with a double and McFarland was walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Wetherell saw the opportunity and scored and Sutton scored off a single from Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA). Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) scored the final run of the inning as Rivera grounded out to first.
The Lions scored their final three runs in the fourth inning as Elias-Calles doubled and Martinez followed with a single to send Elias-Calles flying. Wetherell pinch again and was soon in scoring position just in time for McFarland to double for the second time in the game. McFarland scored off a single from Josh Weeks and the inning concluded as Rivera flied out to right field.
Schuyler Hill (JR/Long Beach, CA) pitched all seven innings for the Pride and gave up one run and allowed five hits. McFarland, Martinez, Elias-Calles and Weeks all went 2-3 at the plate and Perry was 1-4.
Next Game: Tuesday, February 6th at Chapman University at 7 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
