PHOENIX, Ariz. — A big weekend of Golden State Athletic Conference play was in store for No. 24-ranked Vanguard University, who rose to the occasion and broke out the brooms for the second time this season. The Pride claimed the series crown over Arizona Christian University with a steady defense and hot day at the plate.
Game 1: Vanguard 8, Arizona Christian 3
Michael Fuchs (SR/Irvine, CA) lead off in the second with a double, slowly putting the Lions offense in gear. Fuchs scored on a sac-fly from Joe Johnson (FR/Medford, OR), and the bats didn't stop swinging from there. In the third, Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA) and Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) did their part to turn up the heat in the batter's box, smacking a single and a double respectively. Perry's double sent Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA), Wright's replacement on the bases, in to score and further the lead. A quick bottom of the third secured momentum in favor of the Pride. Vanguard exploded into the fourth frame and found themselves with bases loaded and one out in the books. Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) put the runners in motion with a RBI single, and Wright followed suit with a two RBI single down the right side, making way for Fuchs and Johnson to score. The rally forced a pitching change from the Firestorm, but the Lions maintained the upper hand facing the fresh face on the mound, despite having two outs hanging over their heads. Weeks scored on a passed ball and Wetherell flew home on an Elias-Calles single. A 7-1 lead was not enough for the Pride, who scored once more in the fifth inning. The inning started out strong as Lucas Martinez (SR/Fairfax, VA) doubled and Johnson singled. A fielder's choice sent Weeks to first, Johnson to the dugout and Martinez in to score. Arizona Christian got their defense moving and closed out the inning. The score remained unchanged until the seventh as ACU got two runs in. Vanguard used four pitchers in the game and logged 10 hits.
Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) pitched the first five innings and gave up four hits and one run. The sophomore RHP threw four strikeouts and walked four batters on 22 batters faced. Jakob Farmer (FR/Norwalk, CA), Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) and Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) each made an appearance on the mound and threw two strikeouts a piece. Wright made a big impact on the game's tone, logging two RBI and a 2-for-3 game at the plate.
Game 2: Vanguard 7, Arizona Christian 0
Vanguard matched the number of hits they had in game one, and brought an even bigger wave of momentum into the nightcap. Schuyler Hill (JR/Long Beach, CA) put in work for the Pride in six innings and threw seven strikeouts. Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) closed out the contest in the seventh inning and gave up one hit on four batters faced.
Vanguard opened the contest strong and had two runs up by the end of the first. The offense moved slow and steady, winning the day all together. In the third inning, Elias-Calles fell victim to a wild pitch and reached, and scored shortly after as Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) doubled to right center. Perry to left field and Elias-Calles doubled, reaching third on a throwing error. Perry took advantage of the error and scored, and a wild pitch worked in Elias-Calles' favor, causing him to score. Vanguard got going again in the seventh as Sutton and Grady Conner (SO/Costa Mesa, CA) put the final two game-sealing runs away.
Fuchs recorded a 3-for-4 game at the plate while Perry went 2-for-4 and scored two runs .Elias-Calles, who scored three runs, and Sutton, who scored once, were 2-for-3 in the box and logged two and one RBI respectively.
Next Game: Wednesday, March 21st against Bethesda University of California at 2:30 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
