GLENDALE, Ariz. – Vanguard received two quality starting pitching performances from Lucas Bixby (JR/DeWitt, IA) and Justin Graves (JR/Irvine, CA) as the ninth-ranked Lions blitzed No. 23 Arizona Christian by scores of 9-3 and 6-2 on Friday at Apollo High School.
The Lions improved to 27-5 overall and 11-3 in Golden State Athletic Conference action. The Firestorm fell to 19-14 and 7-9 in conference play.
VU pitching has allowed three runs or less in nine of 14 conference games.
Game 1 – Vanguard jumped out to an 8-2 lead to give Bixby all the run support he needed.
The Lions plated three runs in the first and five more in the second, winning comfortably despite committing three errors.
The first inning damage occurred when an OUAZ fielding error allowed Isaiah Lee (SR/Santa Ana, CA) to reach first. Lee stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Aki Buckson (SR/Silverdale, WA) then delivered an RBI single to make it 1-0 Lions.
Later in the frame, VU had two runners aboard and Chad Sutton (SR/Scottsdale, AZ) cleared them both with a triple to center field.
VU erupted for five runs in the third, starting the inning with three straight singles. Tommy Rodriguez (JR/Yucaipa, CA) drove in Joe Johnson (SR/Medford, OR) with a base hit to extend the Lion lead to 4-0.
With runners at the corners, the Lions executed a double steal to perfection as Buckson stole home and Rodriguez swiped second. Rodriguez eventually reached third on a ground out, and came home on another groundout by Kevin Miser (SR/Ridgefield, WA).
Travis Aversa (SR/Fountain Valley, CA) delivered VU's second triple of the game with Elijah Weeks (SR/Murrieta, CA) and Ian McIntyre (JR/Tempe, AZ) aboard, and the two runs gave VU an 8-1 lead after three.
Vanguard plated its ninth run in the sixth on a passed ball.
Bixby went seven solid innings, scattering just four hits and yielding three runs. He walked two and struck out four as the right-hander improved to 6-0 on the season.
He allowed a Firestorm run in the second on an infield error, and one more in the third thanks to back-to-back extra base hits by Sean Garcia and Manny Villa.
ACU also got a run in the seventh on a fielder's choice. Bixby was lifted in the eighth, and Zander Fletcher (JR/Costa Mesa, CA) and Jared Greer (SR/Anaheim, CA) pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.
Buckson, Rodriguez and Sutton all had two hits, while Sutton and Aversa each drove in two runs.
Game 2 – Justin Graves won for the sixth time in his last seven starts, striking out 10 batters in 6.2 innings of work. It was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season after fanning 14 against Embry-Riddle on February 19.
Vanguard trailed for the first time in the series after Arizona Christian scored twice in the second. Troy Collins homered to lead off the inning. After a walk, sacrifice bunt and single put runners at the corners, Graves was called for a balk that scored Marques Titialli.
In the top of the frame, Oscar Diaz (SO/Los Angeles, CA) smacked his second homer of the year, a leadoff shot that gave Vanguard a 1-0 lead.
The Lions did not trail for long though. After allowing ACU the two-spot, VU tied the score with a run in the third on a double play groundout.
Graves found his rhythm in the middle innings, allowing just two singles from the third to sixth. He had at least one strikeout in every inning he pitched.
The Lions manufactured three runs in the fifth, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game. Luke Arias (JR/Spring Valley, CA) led off with an infield single – and pinch runner Elijah Weeks moved to second on a sacrifice. Weeks stole third and Miser delivered a pinch hit walk. Johnson laid down a bunt single to score Weeks for a 3-2 VU lead.
Buckson then scored pinch runner Matthew Land (SR/Eugene, OR) on an RBI single. On the play, Johnson also scored following an error on the ACU third baseman.
The Lions increased their lead to 6-2 in the sixth as Arias doubled home Rodriguez, who led off the frame with a single.
Graves nearly completed the seven-inning game, striking out Brandon Lees and pinch hitter Daniel Durazo. ACU also got two runners aboard via a VU error and a single – and once both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch – Caden Byers (FR/Murrieta, CA) was called on for the final out.
Byers got Oliver Frias to pop up to the shortstop to end the game, picking up his second save of the season.
Why Is It Important?: Vanguard picked up a game on league-leading Westmont and Hope International, which split with each other on Friday.
What Was Said?: "Guys battled well today. They played well in the important moments," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "We'll need our best focus and effort for a strong ACU team tomorrow."
What's Next?: Vanguard and Arizona Christian play another doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the nine-inning game is at 11:00 a.m., with the seven-inning affair to follow.
