COSTA MESA, Calif. - Vanguard (4-0) went head to head against Whittier College in a single game on Tuesday afternoon, after coming off a three game sweep in their first weekend series of the season. The Lions secured the 11-6 win over the Poets for the second year in a row. Whittier was using today's outing as their first exhibition of the season.
The Poets started the game strong and quickly added two runs in the first inning. The Lions managed to score one run in the first inning, but took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the second. The five runs came after a wild pitch from the Poets that allowed Vanguard to tie the game. Luke Arias (FR/Spring Valley, CA) then singled to left field to score the runner to take the lead. Landon Riker (SR/Marysville, WA) also doubled to left field in the second inning and allowed the Lions to secure two more runs. After the first two frames, the Pride led 6-2.
After adding another run in the bottom of the fifth, the Pride snagged four more runs in the seventh inning. Grady Conner (SR/Costa Mesa, CA)'s stolen base began the onslaught of runs and the inning finished with Joe Johnson (JR/Medford, OR) singling, which sent home two more runs. The Blue and Gold managed to weather an offensive attack from the Poets in the top of the ninth inning, where Whittier collected four runs to try to get back in the game. Vanguard's defense managed to shut down the strong offense, ending with Tyler Armenta striking out the Poet's batter for the final out of the game.
Johnson finished out the afternoon with two RBI, while Arias and Riker both had a .750 hitting average. Justin Graves (SO/Irvine, CA) lead the pitchers with three strikeouts and only allowing three hits in four innings.
"I think our hitting really stepped up and we just put a lot of barrel on the ball," said Arias. " I did a lot of work before the game to really get prepared, just like any pitcher or field player would. I just try and work hard."
Next Game: Friday, January 31st at the University of Redlands at 2:00 p.m.
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