COSTA MESA, Calif. — Vanguard University completed the Golden State Athletic Conference series against San Diego Christian College with a trip to the broom closet. In the day's opener, the Lions were hot out of the dugout and kept the fire blazing throughout all nine innings. Michael Kashou (SO/Anaheim, CA) carried the Pride through seven innings and Dylan Ramie (SR/Ewa Beach, HI) recorded his first collegiate home run to secure the victory. Sam Neufeld (JR/Indio, CA) hit a home run in the series finale to overcome the Hawks and reclaim the lead, and Schyuler Hill put seven innings of work in to keep the Hawks at bay. The day's wins extend the Pride's win streak to seven games, the highest it has been this season.
Ramie said the series was great for the team. "We came out strong yesterday and started off with the big win to set the tone of the series and carry it on throughout the day today. We played baseball like we know how," Ramie said. Tanner Perry (SR/El Cajon, CA) chimed in and said trusting in each other has been a key element of this series. Ramie also commented on his momentum boosting home run. "It was a great feeling; I'm glad it finally happened. It was cool seeing how excited the whole team got for me." The Blue and Gold take a six day break before their next series against the Master's University. "We'll take it one day at a time, game to game," Ramie said on the remaining seven games of the regular season. "We have to make sure we play well in each game that comes up and try not to get too ahead of ourselves."
Game 1: Vanguard 8, San Diego Christian 1
The Lions offense came alive Vanguard in the third inning and resulted in two runs on three hits. Shane Elias-Calles (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) singled through the left side to score Perry, and Michael Fuchs (SR/Irvine, CA) sent a double soaring to right to score Elias-Calles. The Hawks responded with one run in the top of the fourth, almost posting two, but Joe Johnson (FR/Medford, OR) made a stellar catch to grab the out at first and end the inning in time. Sam Neufeld hit a single to right center in the fourth frame and scored on a sac-bunt by Kody Wright (JR/Bakersfield, CA) to lead 3-1 at the end of the inning. Sutton added one more run to the books in the sixth. Despite having the 4-1 lead, the Pride did not slow down as the game moved on, and tacked on four more runs in the eighth. Ramie started the bottom of the inning on a high note and whacked a solo home run to left field. The rally rolled on as Bryce Wetherell (SR/Chattaroy, WA) followed up with a double and Julio Rivera (JR/Puerto Rico) walked. Wright loaded up the bases on a HBP before Perry was up to bat. Perry knocked a sac-fly to center to score Wetherell, and Elias-Calles doubled to right to score Luke Nobiensky (FR/Temecula, CA) and Rivera. Alex Camacho (JR/Stockton, CA) took to the mound in the ninth inning and tossed two strikeouts to end the inning with the victory.
Kashou pitched seven innings and gave up seven hits and one earned run. Kashou threw one strikeout and walked one batter on 27 batters faced. Ryan Daugherty (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) pitched one inning and allowed one hit on four batters, and Alex Camacho closed out the contest in the ninth. Camacho threw two strikeouts and walked one batter on five batters faced. Perry and Johnson both went 2-for-3 at the plate while Elias-Calles and Fuchs went 2-for-4.
Game 2: Vanguard 5, San Diego Christian 2
It was SDC that got a jump on the lead in game two. After three scoreless innings, the Hawks put two runs on the board in the fourth. A solo home run opened the inning, and another run followed. SDC pulled four hits out fo the inning and had three runners left on base. Vanguard opened the bottom of the inning and qucikly put two outs on the board. Depsite the outs looming, the tone of the inning changed as Sutton was walked. Wright turned the tide with with a single down the left field line and Neufeld egged it on with a hefty a three run home run to left field to reclaim the lead and put momentum back in Vanguard's favor. A quiet inning from SDC put Vanguard back in the batter's box and Perry opened the bottomg of fifth inning with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Fuchs walked and Sutton sent the pair home with a single down the left field line for the final two runs of the day.
Hill threw eight strikeouts and walked three batter on 29 batters faced. Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate while Perry, Sutton, Wright and Neufeld chipped in with one hit a piece.
Next Game: Friday, April 13th at The Master's University at 3:00 p.m.
-GOLD PRIDE-
