FULLERTON, Calif. - Vangaurd concluded its four game series with Hope International Saturday, and after dropping a close first contest, the Lions fell 2-7 in game two. The pair of losses to the Royals puts VU at 30-16 overll and 17-11 in GSAC with five games remaining for the 2019 campaign.
Game 1: Vanguard 7, HIU 8
Sam Neufeld (SR/Indio, CA) posted the first run of the game with solo homer in the top of the second, but Hope International flipped the lead to its favor with two runs behind three hits in the bottom of the inning. In the fourth, the Royals rattled off four hits to collect five runs and surge ahead 7-1. The Lions retaliated with a four run fifth. Landon Riker (JR/Marysville, WA) got on when he was hit by a pitch and scored when Joe Johnson (SO/Medford, OR) reached on an error. Omar Ortiz (JR/Las Vegas, NV) and Maxx Mahon (SR/Lexington, KY) put together two singles for one VU run and Caleb Squire (SR/Arvada, CO)'s base hit loaded the bases. Neufeld singled to center for two RBI and to place the Lions down 5-7. Vanguard gave up a lone run during HIU's next at bat, and then made a near comeback in the sixth. Diego Altamirano (FR/Bothell, WA) drew a walk and moved to secoond on a hit from Riker. Tyler McFarland's double brought in two runs and put Vanguard down by one run. Vanguard threatended to tie the game in the seventh with two hits and in the ninth with a hit from Ortiz, but failed to even the score.
Game 1: Vanguard 2, HIU 7
The Royals snagged a one run lead in the bottom of the first, until the Lions took it back in the top of two. Squire singled and with two down, Julio Rivera (SR/Puerto Rico)'s base hit advanced him home. Elijah Weeks (FR/Murrieta, CA) stepped up next and singled to center field for a RBI. In the bottom of the second, HIU utilzied three hits for three runs. Hope International added one more in the fourth and two in the sixth for 7-2 control. In the sixth, Vanguard got two hits from Mahon and Squire, but were stranded on base.
Next Game: Wednesday, April 16th against Bethesda University of California at OC Great Park Stadium in Irvine, CA. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.
#ClawsUp
