COSTA MESA, Calif. - The Vanguard Lions (3-0) entered into a two-game series versus Westcliff University (0-3) on Saturday afternoon and came out victorious in both games. These pair of wins came after a successful opening day on Friday against the Warriors, where the Lions would come away with a 13-5 victory.
Game 1: Vanguard University 9, Westcliff University 5
After two scoreless innings of baseball, the Lions fell behind during the third inning after the Warriors scored five runs. Vanguard retaliated with a single run during the bottom of the third after Matthew Land (JR/Eugene, OR) grounded into a fielder's choice to send Grady Conner (SR/Costa Mesa, CA) home. It wasn't until the seventh inning that Lions gained the upper hand in the game after scoring seven runs.
With the bases loaded, Aki Buckson (JR/Silverdale, WA) battled hard in the batter's box to secure a walk that began to move the runners around the bases. Landon Riker (SR/Marysville, WA) then singled up the middle to send home both Land and Elijah Weeks (SO/Murrieta, CA). Buckson scored after Nathan Petrov walked and Riker scored after Josh Weeks (SR/Murrieta, CA) singled to the right field. Connor brought home the final run of the inning after he hit a sacrifice fly to secure the seventh run. Buckson scored again in the bottom of the sixth off an error from the Warriors and the Lions would go on to win 9-5.
Game 2: Vanguard University 12, Westcliff University 1
The Lions dominated the Warriors in the second game of the day with strong plate discipline. Vanguard quickly took the lead in the second inning, where they tallied four runs. The Lions scored in the third inning after Buckson singled in the gap between the third baseman and the shortstop that allowed Chad Sutton (JR/Scottsdale, AZ) to run home The fifth inning was the Lion's most successful offensively where they collected six runs. After Riker's single that allowed Gabe Barthelmass (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) to score, Isaiah Lee (SO/Santa Ana, CA) walked with the bases loaded and sent E. Weeks home. J. Weeks then doubled to right field, sending Riker home. Conner finished up the inning with a triple to center field to clear the bases, bringing in two. The Warriors got on the board with a solo shot to left field, but that is all the scoring they would be able to manage in the second game.
Devin Sutorius (SR/Dana Point, CA) earned the win in the second game as he pitched five scoreless innings, only giving up three hits, and had five strikeouts. "It felt good to get the wins in the home opener. I just want to praise God. It always feels good to have the successful offense and it makes going out there and throwing strikes easier," said Sutorius. "As a pitching staff, we wanted to limit walks and let the defense help us out."
Next Game: Tuesday, January 28th against Whittier College at 2:00 p.m.
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