COSTA MESA, Calif. — Continuing the top-ranked GSAC matchup, No. 24 Vanguard University and No. 7 William Jessup University went head-to-head for day two of the Golden State Athletic Conference series. The doubleheader and conclusion of the showdown proved to be a challenge for the Pride as the Warriors took the series 3-0. Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) said the weekend was a humbling one. "We're learning. I think we learned a lot on how to compete with a good team and from here we figure out how to become a better team," he remarked. Despite the sweep, Perry said he and the team can only improve from here. "We're looking forward to fire from our teammates, fire from our coaches and coming out full speed," Perry said of next weekend's games.
Game 1: William Jessup 11, Vanguard 4
Vanguard found themselves in some rough waters against the Warriors who grabbed a 4-0 lead early on in the third frame. Although the Blue and Gold were down throughout nearly half of the game, they came up big in the fifth inning, denying WJU a chance at a shutout victory. Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) started it off with a single down the left field line and Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) was walked. Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) loaded the bases with a single, and Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA) battled in the box with two outs on the board and pulled out a single down the left side, bringing Weeks in for the first run of the day. Perry knocked a sac-fly out to center and helped to chip into the Warrior lead with the RBI on Sutton's run home. Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) followed the trend and hit a RBI single down the right field line to put Neufeld on a clear path home. Wetherell saw the opportunity on a wild pitch and shot off third to score the final run of the inning. Jessup picked up again in the seventh inning with three runs and tacked on two more in the ninth.
Six Vanguard pitchers made an appearance on the mound. Jordan Dreibelbis (SR/Las Vegas, NV) started off and pitched three innings for the Pride, gave up nine hits, six runs and struck out four. Taylor Wilson (FR/Keller, TX) came out to relieve him in the top of the fourth inning and gave up one hit, walked three and struck out three on 11 batters faced. Jared Greer (FR/Anaheim, CA) made his weekend debut in the top of the sixth inning and gave up three hit, two runs and struck out three. In the box, Wetherell finished with a 2-for-3 performance and scored once. Neufeld, Sutton, Elias-Calles and Fuchs each recorded one hit on the game.
Game 2: William Jessup 7, Vanguard 5
The stage was set for game two as the rain subsided, and the GSAC foes went right back to work. Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) started off on the mound and threw strikeouts, gave up seven hits and three runs on 18 batters faced. Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) made his appearance in the top of the fourth, and gave up two hits and four runs. Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) gave up two hits and Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) closed out the contest and put one strikeout in the books.
This time around it was Vanguard who jumped on an early lead via Fuchs' two-run homer whacked out to left field. Jessup fired back in the fourth inning with three runs, and Weeks responded for the Pride in the bottom of the frame with a run off a Perry single. Jessup tacked on four more runs in the fifth, but the Pride was not done fighting. In the bottom of the sixth, Vanguard nearly got a rally going and pulled within two runs of the Warriors. Weeks walked and Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA) singled through the left side. Neufeld connected with the pitch to knock a big double to right field and send Julio Rivera (JR/Puerto Rico) and Weeks in to score. Weeks finished the game with two runs for the Pride and a 1-for-1 game at the plate. Elias-Calles also scored once and went 2-for-3 at bat.
Next Game: Thursday, March 15th at Ottawa University at 6:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
