COSTA MESA, Calif. - The Vanguard Lions (7-2) split Saturday's doubleheader against (25) Benedictine University-Mesa (8-3). After a 15-4 result on Friday, neither team could get things going on the offensive end early on as the bats would lie dormant until the back end of the afternoon. The Redhawks pulled out a close one that was tied through eight innings in the first game and the Lions earned a shutout victory in the second. 

Game One: Vanguard University 4 - Benedictine Mesa 5

Grady Conner (SR/Costa Mesa, CA) kicked things off in the bottom of the second inning as he doubled to deep left. With Chad Sutton (JR/Scottsdale, AZ) in an unfavorable count, Conner took off to third and the ball squirted away towards the VU dugout. The Redhawk catcher made the throw down to first to catch Sutton and Conner was able to leg one out and put one on the board for the Lions. Benedictine Mesa would tie the game up in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Joe Johnson (JR/Medford, OR) would single to right to put the Lions back on top by one, but the Redhawks would immediately respond in the top of the eighth after an error would score Casey Lederman from third. In the top of the ninth, two doubles by the visitors would drive home three runs to take a 5-2 lead. With a man on second and third, Aki Buckson (JR/Silverdale, WA) scored off a fielder's choice and Riker scored from a throwing error later in the inning, but the comeback attempt would die out there and Benedictine Mesa would take the first game of the doubleheader. 

Game Two: Vanguard University 4 - Benedictine Mesa 0

A four-run explosion in the third is all the Lions would need to split the series against the Redhawks. In the bottom of the third, the Lions loaded the bases with one out and Kevin Miser (JR/Ridgefield, WA)'s single would score two. A passed ball would move the runners over to second and third and Chad Sutton's single up the middle would bring in two more runs. Devin Sutorius (SR/Dana Point, CA) dominated on the hill as he went the distance, only allowing three hits while striking out three in seven innings of work to earn his second win of the year. 

After we lost a close one in the first game, I told this team that we have to fight with energy and never say die so that really played over into the second game," said Kevin Miser. "DJ came and killed it on the mound and our guys really came out ready to compete and it led to the series win for us."

Next Game: Thursday, February 13th against Park University - Gilbert at 2:00 p.m.

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