COSTA MESA, Calif. - The fourth-ranked Vanguard University Baseball team (26-6, 14-4) dropped the first game against tenth-ranked Hope International University (16-8, 12-6) before a wild comeback in the second game led to a dramatic finish in which the Blue and Gold earned a 5-4 walk-off win thanks to clutch hitting by Tommy Rodriguez and Travis Aversa.
What Happened?
Game One: Justin Graves and Gavin Velasquez continued the pitching duel from game two of the series as they went five deep, only allowing two hits each. Brennan Mckenzie would prevent the eleventh zero from being added to the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with a home run to left-center, his twelfth of the year. Mckenzie came into today's game ranked 8th in the NAIA in home runs.
Luke Arias would get things started in the bottom of the frame as he ripped a single into center field. Aki Buckson would proceed to hit a momentum-changing home run to left field, his tenth of the year to give the Lions a 2-1 lead. The Royals were able to tie up the game in the top of the eighth with a bloop single down the left-field line and then went ahead with a fielder's choice that Tyler Lasch legged out to avoid a double play. Gavin Velasquez would record a complete game as he only allowed five hits and two runs as he struck out eight to move to 5-2.
Game Two: Hope International loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and a couple of wild pitches would bring in two runs to give the Royals an early 2-0 lead. Travis Aversa started the bottom of the frame with a leadoff walk and then Aki Buckson would once again come in clutch as he hit his second home run of the day to tie things up at two.
In the bottom of the fourth, Landon Riker doubled to right-center and Grady Conner followed it up with a picture-perfect bunt to get aboard. Kevin Miser would move the runners along with a bunt down the first base side that had enough depth to score Riker from third to give the Lions a 3-2 lead. Mckenzie would continue his duel with Buckson as he hit a solo shot that just narrowly stayed fair to tie things up in the top of the fifth.
In the top of the seventh, the Royals would put the pressure on as they loaded the bases and a mad dash home by Dominic Riggio off of a shallow pop fly to center would pay dividends as the visitors went up a run with a half inning to go. Kevin Miser would draw a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt would advance the pinch-runner Aaron Zubiate to second. Zubiate would advance to third from a wild pitch and a clutch single by Tommy Rodriguez would tie this game up. Rodriguez showed off the wheels, stealing second to put another runner in scoring position. Travis Aversa singled through the left side giving Rodriguez ample time to cross the plate while the bench stormed the field to douse anything and everything in water to celebrate their 5-4 victory.
Why It's Important? The Lions moved their all-time record to 18-12 against the Royals after splitting the four-game series. With the win, the Lions would ensure that they did not concede any ground to HUI in the conference standings while finishing the season series with a 5-3 record.
Top Performers: Aki Buckson went 3-6 on the day with 4 RBI and two homers, while Travis Aversa went 3-7 on the day with the game-winning RBI in the second game. Chad Sutton would go 2-4 on the day, while Matt Lester would earn his first win of the year to round things out for the Blue and Gold.
What They Said: Aversa spoke on his game-winning hit, saying "It's unbelievable, that's the most fun thing that ever happened to me on a baseball field. I was just glad I could do my part and help us win credit to Kevin Miser he had a great at-bat and ended up getting walked and then Matt Land bunted him over and then Tommy Rodriguez had a great at-bat setting it up for me being able to do that so just all-around great team win super fun."
What's Next: Tuesday, March 30th at 5:00 p.m. against the University of San Diego
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