LANCASTER, Calif. - After four scoreless innings against the University of Antelope Valley, Vanguard broke the game open with 10 hits across two innings to defeat the No. 7 Pioneers Monday. The 8-3 win advances the Blue and Gold to 8-0.
The game changing at bat came in the top of the fifth and started with an UAV error on Josh Week's fly ball. A walk from Grady Conner moved him over before Sam Neufeld singled down the left line to bring Weeks home. Caleb Squire (SR/Arvada, CO) came up next to score Conner and a single from Maxx Mahon (SR/Lexington, KY) made it 3-0.
The Lions separated themselves by a larger margin in the eighth with five more runs. Landon Riker (JR/Marysville, WA) began the big inning with a single up the middle and Mahon did the same. Joe Johnson (SO/Medford, OR) then ripped a double down the left line for one RBI. Omar Ortiz (JR/Las Vegas, NV) pulled through next with a triple to deep right center. Ortiz went on to score on an error on Week's hit, and Weeks made it home on a Neufeld single to center.
Antelope Valley attempted to close the gap in the bottom of eight, but the Lions dodged the threat and contained them to only two runs. Joey Jennison (JR/Danville, CA) came in to pitch the final inning, and put three batters away on a strikeout, a ground out and a fly ball to right.
Neufeld was 3-5 at the plate with two RBI and one run. Squire had two hits, two walks and two RBI. Riker, Mahon and Johnson each had a multi hit game. Michael Kashou (JR/Anaheim, CA) earned the win from five scoreless innings and three strikeouts.
"We came into the game not caring about rankings. We don't care who is on the field, as long as we play to our potential, we aren't worried about a thing," Kashou said. "It was a cold day so I really wanted to just get ahead of batters and attack them with my fastball. Once I got ahead, both my slider and change-up felt great. I really trusted my defense and it was good effort all the way around."
Next Game: Tuesday, Feb. 12th at 2 p.m. against Biola University in Costa Mesa, CA.
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