COSTA MESA, Calif. — No. 24-ranked Vanguard University returned home hot off a three-game win streak to host Bethesda University of California in a single non-conference game to kick off a four-game home stand. The Blue and Gold came out victorious and took the 3-1 win, improving to 18-16-1 overall. Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA) said the Lions pulled out the win by staying focused on the goal and trusting one another. "We trusted in our guys coming out of the pen keeping us in the game and trusted our bats to come through in the clutch," he said. "We know with games we have coming up and the rest of the season, we need to win a good portion of them to make it to the playoffs which is ultimately our goal. If we can get a step closer with a weekday game like this, a win helps us out and we're able to keep playoffs in our grasp."
Bethesda took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and hung onto it until Vanguard broke through in the bottom of the seventh frame to tie the contest at one run a piece. The run came at the hands of Chris Rodriguez (JR/Tustin, CA) who singled through the left side. Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) changed the tone of the game with a triple to center field, giving Rodriguez time to coast home. A solid performance from Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) kept the Flames at bay, and the Pride moved into the bottom of the frame riding the wave of momentum created in the seventh. Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) opened the bottom of the inning with a double to right center and advanced on a sac-fly from Sutton. Michael Fuchs (SR/Irvine, CA) took matters into his own hands and hit a two-run bomb to left field to seize the lead for the Pride. The inning came to a close on outs from Lucas Martinez (SR/Fairfax, VA) and Joe Johnson (FR/Medford, OR). Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) was called up from the pen to close out the inning. Camacho delivered a strong performance on the mound, threw two strikeouts and sealed the deal for the Pride who extend win streak to four games before moving into conference action this weekend.
Michael Barker (FR/Ridgecrest, CA) threw four strikeouts in the four innings pitched, walked six and gave up one hit on 18 batters faced. Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) came out in the sixth inning and faced four batters while Jared Greer (FR/Anaheim, CA) and Daugherty pitched an inning a piece. Greer threw one strikeout and Daugherty gave up one hit. In the box, Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 on the day and Fuchs went 1-for-4 and logged two RBI. Perry, Elias-Calles, Sutton, Johnson and Neufeld each recorded one hit on the day. Vanguard takes a day break before jumping back into a conference series this weekend to host Westmont College. "We're focusing on one game at a time and making sure to come out on top of our game," Wright said. "Westmont is a good team and a rival in the Golden State Athletic Conference. If we come out with the game we've been playing, I think we'll be alright."
Next Game: Friday, March 23rd against Westmont College at 3:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
