ATHERTON, Calif. — Vanguard University could not get enough of the wild action against Menlo College from yesterday's game, and took the same drive and intensity into today's doubleheader. The Blue and Gold captured the series with a much needed sweep, fueling them in the push to the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament. A dominant game one fueled the heavy offense in the nightcap and claimed the series crown for Vanguard. With the sweep, Vanguard improves to 21-19-1 overall while Menlo drops to 14-21 on the season. Jordan Dreibelbis (SR/Las Vegas, NV), who pitched seven innings in the day's opener, said the sweep came at a perfect time. "We are going to take this into next weekend's series against San Diego Christian and through the rest of the season. We came together today and played as a team in every aspect," Dreibelbis remarked. "Averaging 10 runs a game, the offense is happy, playing loose and having fun, and our pitchers can go out and do what they do without the pressure of a close game. It's a blessing to be a pitcher on a team hitting like us this series."
Game 1: Vanguard 9, Menlo 7
Both pitchers delivered a scoreless three innings before Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) singlehandedly changed the tone with a solo home run to left field. Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) scored the second run of the day on an error in right field after gearing up to bolt home on a single hit by Joe Johnson (FR/Medford, OR). Right field saw more action as Chris Rodriguez (JR/Tustin, CA) doubled, causing Johnson to score the third run of the day. Menlo answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame and trailed by one until Vanguard managed to distance themselves in the top of the fifth. Despite a pitching change on Menlo's end, Weeks singled to left field and scored, unearned, as Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) walked and further loaded up the bases. Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) knocked a RBI single and got the runners moving and Shane Elias-Calles scored to push the lead to 5-2. Jordan Dreibelbis threw a scoreless bottom of the fifth, and the Lions offense got right back into it in the top of the sixth. Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) started off with a double, Weeks Walks and Elias-Calles doubled to left field to put Perry on the path home. Weeks scored on a sac-fly hit by Rodriguez and Elias-Calles returned to the dugout with another run on the board on a single by Sutton. Cameron Hirahara (FR/Grover Beach, CA) locked in the ninth run of the day in favor of the Lions, scored on a Weeks single. A determined Oaks team took to the bottom of the ninth with a last ditch effort to make the comeback and win it. Despite logging three more runs and pulling within two runs, a combined effort from Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) and Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) with the Lions defense behind them kept the Oaks at bay to claim the win.
Weeks, Rodriguez and Sutton each picked up two RBI in the day's opener. Weeks went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs, while Sutton and Rodriguez chipped in with one hit a piece. Elias-Calles had a big game at the plate and recored a 5-for-6 game in the box. Dreibelbis pitched seven innings, threw four strikeouts and walked two. Dreibelbis gave up six hits and two runs. Jacob Farmer and Jared Greer (FR/Anaheim, CA) made an appearance on the mound. Greer gave up two hits and three runs, and threw one strikeout. Camacho closed out the contest on the mound and gave up one hit and tossed one strikeout.
Game 2: Vanguard 9, Menlo 6
The Pride wasted no time jumping on the lead and put up three runs and three hits in the top of the first inning. Weeks singled and stile second, and Elias-Calles walked. Weeks posted the first run of the game on a single hit deep into right field by Johnson. Ellias-Calles capitalized on a error by the catcher and scored. Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA) slammed a double to left field to bring Johnson in to score the final run of the inning. Vanguard exploded into the second inning and extended their lead by six runs. Dylan Ramie (SR/Ewa Beach, HI) singled to center and Weeks walked. With bodies on base, Elias-Calles whacked a three-run home run out to left field, bringing both runs and a wave of momentum back into the Lions dugout. Johnson was walked, but did not stay on base for long as Rodriguez launched the second multi-run home run of the inning into left field. Kody Wright unfortunately was hit by a pitch, and Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA) replaced him as the pinch runner. Neufeld picked up the last RBI on the day with single to left that caused Wetherell to score. Menlo dug into the Lions lead in the bottom of the frame and posted four runs, and broke through with one last effort in the bottom of the sixth. A two run home run put the Oaks within reaching distance of the lead, but their efforts were shut down in the bottom of the seventh.
Schuyler Hill (JR/Long Beach, CA) went the distance for Vanguard and pitched all seven innings, gave up six hits and four earned runs, and threw an impressive 11 strikeouts on 27 batters faced. Weeks logged a 2-for-3 game at the plate while Neufeld went 2-for-4 and picked up one RBI. Elias-Calles recorded one crucial hit on the day and three RBI, and Rodriguez picked up two RBI on his hit.
Next Game: Tuesday, April 3rd against Marymount California University at 2:30 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
