COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Golden State Athletic Conference series and final home games of the regular season between Hope International University and Vanguard University concluded with a split on senior day. Despite dropping the opener, the Blue and Gold bounced back in the series finale by taking a significant lead early. Vanguard honored 11 seniors prior to game time. On the Hope International side, 10 seniors graced Dean Harvey Field, making the day special for all 21 seniors and their families. Dylan Ramie (SR/Ewa Beach, HI), who logged one hit on the day said the day was exciting overall. "We wanted to come out and have fun. The first game didn't go as planned but we came out hot in the second game and started hitting from the beginning," Ramie said. "That was big for us. We didn't want to end the regular season getting swept." Although the regular season ends in a split on the day, the series finale showcased the fighting spirit of the Blue and Gold. "Our team showed a lot of heart today," Ramie added. We knew we were going to have to come out and fight for that last win, and I'm proud of how we came out firing in that last game." Vanguard concludes the regular season 28-23-1 overall and 22-14 in GSAC, while HIU finishes with a 25-24 overall record and 17-19 in conference.
Game 1: Hope International 5, Vanguard 1
Hope International got on the board first with a two RBI single and a steal at home to secure a 3-0 lead by the end of the fourth frame. The Royals worked the lead in their favor and pushed through to add two insurance runs to the board before Vanguard had their last ups in the ninth. The shutout spoiling run was built off a lead-off double hit by Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA). Michael Fuchs (SR/Irvine, CA) put the second and final hit of the inning away on a single to short, but was out at second on a fielder's choice. Hope of a Lions run laid in the hands of Perry, who had now been moved into third base. As Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) fired a hit toward short, Perry shot off third. HIU attempted to shut down the play with a throw to first, but a bounce off the first basemen's glove put an error on board and the lone run in the books. The start of a comeback was too little, too late for the Lions, who dropped the opener, but remained hopeful for game two.
Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) started out on the mound and lasted seven innings. Kashou gave up three runs and walked three batters, but delivered seven strikeouts on 29 batters faced. Josh Bailly (SR/Union City, CA) made a brief appearance and faced one batter in the eighth before Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) came out to close. Daugherty gave up two hits and threw two strikeouts.
Game 2: Vanguard 8, Hope International 3
A powerful first inning breathed life into the Vanguard offense. The momentum carried into the second and 10 hits in two innings followed. A lead off walk on Perry started out the first, and Josh Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA) hit a sac-bunt to advance Perry to second. Elias-Calles and Fuchs hit back-to-back singles, and Martinez followed up with a RBI double. Leading 2-0 with one out, Vanguard strung together three more hits, despite HIU grabbing an out. The heftiest hit came from Sam Neufeld, who for the second time in a week, hit a crucial home run. Neufeld added to the Lions surge with the three-run rocket to left field, increasing the lead to 5-0 with two outs. Johnson followed up with a single, and Chad Sutton (FR/Scottsdale, AZ) walked. Perry was back at the plate for the second time in the inning, this time whacking a double to left field to score Johnson for the 6-0 lead. Vanguard would add two more runs in the second inning on four hits, starting with a lead-off single from Elias-Calles. Fuchs, Martinez and Travis McFarland (SO/Corona, CA) nabbed the last three, scoring Elias-Calles in the process. The final run of the game for the Pride came from Michael Fuchs on a sac-fly into deep center field by Johnson. The Royals threatened a comeback in the fourth inning with two runs and once more in the seventh. Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) came out as a closer in the top of the seventh and struck out one batter, gave up two hits and one run.
Prior to Camacho's appearance, Schuyler Hill (JR/Long Beach, CA) pitched six innings, gave up two hits and one run, and threw six strikeouts. Of the 12 hits on the game, Perry, Elias-Calles, Fuchs and Martinez logged two a piece, while Neufeld, Johnson, McFarland and Grady Conner (SO/Costa Mesa, CA) chipped in with the remaining four.
Next Game: Monday, April 30th in the GSAC Tournament. Time and Opponent TBA.
-GOLD PRIDE-
