COSTA MESA, Calif. - The 18th-ranked Vanguard Lions (7-1) took on the 19th-ranked Benedictine University at Mesa (7-4) in their second two-game series in two days. The series lived up the hype as the two top-25 teams battled it out, as the Lions took game one 4-1 behind a late home run by Grady Conner (SR/Costa Mesa, CA) while narrowly falling in game two by the score of 4-3.
What Happened?
Game One: Travis Aversa (JR/Fountain Valley, CA) got things going in a hurry for the Lions as he took the second pitch he saw for a ride into right field for a leadoff home run. The Redhawks were able to tie things up in the top of the fifth as Mike Avilucea hit a two-out single up the middle to score Michael Garverick from third. The Lions would immediately retaliate in the bottom of the frame as Omar Ortiz (SR/Las Vegas, NV) hit a leadoff single and moved to third as Grady Conner ripped a double down the line in right. Matt Land would bring Ortiz home with a hard-hit ball to the second baseman to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Conner would provide some insurance for the Lions as with one on and two outs, he hit a deep home run to the gap in right-center to give the Lions a three-run lead. The Redhawks would threaten in the top of the ninth as they put two on with no outs, but Matt Lester (SR/Salem, OR) would come in clutch in relief as he forced a pop-out and struck out two to earn the save and seal game one in favor of the Blue and Gold.
Game Two: The Lions jumped ahead early once again as two singles by Omar Ortiz and Landon Riker (SR/Marysville, WA) would put runners on the corners. Joe Johnson (JR/Medford, OR) would ground into a fielder's choice that would score Riker from third, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. Christian Carlos would tie things up in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to left, and Michael Garverick would give the Redhawks the lead in the sixth with a two-run shot that hit the top of the netting in left.
After a leadoff walk and stolen base by Grady Conner, two singles by Travis Aversa and Oscar Diaz (FR/Los Angeles, CA) would bring a run in. A wild pitch and a mad dash home by Aversa would tie the game up at three in the bottom of the frame. An error would put a runner on third to begin the top of the seventh for the Redhawks and Erick Bahn would send a long fly ball to center field to bring home the runner from third.
Why It's Important: This would be a battle of two top-25 teams in the NAIA as the Lions ranked 18th and the Redhawks would enter the contest ranked 19th. The Lions high-powered offense was held mostly in check in both games, but the pitching staff showed they could rise to the challenge with two strong performances.
Top Performers: Justin Graves (SO/Irvine, CA) went for six innings, earning the win in game one as he only allowed three hits and no earned runs while striking out five batters. Both Joe Johnson and Grady Conner would go 2-4 with a run in game one, but Conner would add two RBI with his two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth. In game two, Landon Riker and Travis Aversa would each go 2-3 with a run.
What They Said: "I feel like we played hard all day today. In Game 1 we had made all the plays necessary and came up clutch when we needed too as far as hitting," said Justin Graves." "In Game 2 I felt we did the same exact thing they just came out with the win in the end and I think everyone battled hard, I think we shouldn't get down about it but we should learn rather than get disappointed."
What's Next: Monday, February 15th for a doubleheader against La Sierra University starting at 11:00 a.m.
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