ATHERTON, Calif. – The Vanguard bats utllized Cartan Field as a launching pad in Friday's Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader against Menlo, hitting eight home runs over the two games.
However, the Lions settled for a split as the pitching staff gave up a combined 21 runs during the twinbill. VU lost the first game 10-9 but came back to win the second 13-11. In both instances, the losing team applied furious, late comebacks only to fall short at the end.
The Lions went 10 straight games without hitting a home run before Friday's power eruption. Dane Nakatsuka and Fred Buckson hit a homer in both ends of the doubleheader, while Marco Lopez took full advantage of his game two start and ripped a pair of roundtrippers.
Tommy Rodriguez went deep in his first start since March 13. Tyler Gordon also hit his first career collegiate home run.
VU's seven-game win streak ended in the game one loss. The Lions are now 32-13 overall and 15-8 in GSAC play. Six of VU's losses have been by one run.
Menlo's record now stands at 8-31 overall and 4-17 in conference action.
What Happened?
Game 1 – The Lions trailed from start to finish, but nearly pulled off a fantastic comeback with a five-run ninth inning.
Vanguard starter Jacob Dahlstrom gave up three runs on three consecutive hits in the first inning, capped off by a Jonathan Charboneau two-run shot.
The Lions continued to trail 3-0 until the fifth when they loaded the bases on a Menlo error, walk and hit by pitch. VU pulled back a pair of runs on a Nakatsuka RBI groundout and a sac fly from Michael Downtain.
But the Oaks responded with two runs in the bottom half with two outs. Four straight batters reached base – and Sage Pera and Charboneau capitalized with run-scoring singles.
Vanguard cut the lead to one for a second time following a two-run sixth, as Rodriguez homered with Antonio Omphroy aboard with two away.
Trailing 5-4, the Lions turned to their bullpen after Dahlstrom departed after five innings of work. Jackson Webber pitched a clean sixth but ran into trouble in the seventh. He gave up a leadoff single to Zach Dyer, followed by a double to Blake Dompier and a walk to Anthony Masetti. Webber struck out Pera for out number one.
Wiih the bases remaining loaded, Kyle Hoskins entered in relief for the Lions. Charboneau greeted the right-hander by driving in his fourth and fifth runs of the game with a double. Hoskins got the next Oak hitter to strike out, but Jake Koeper hit a three-run shot in the ensuing at-bat.
The Oaks took their 10-4 lead into the ninth with Richard Kiel on the mound. The Lions started their rally with a one-out Nakatsuka solo blast. With Downtain on third and two outs, Oscar Diaz walked and Omphroy drove in VU's second run of the inning with a single.
Trailing 10-6, the Lions created more drama as Buckson boomed his team-leading seventh home run of the season, a mammoth three-run shot over the left field fence that sliced the deficit to one.
Kiel then walked Rodriguez to put the tying run at first, and the Oaks turned to Robely Corsi to squelch the VU rally. After Rodriguez stole second to move into scoring position, Corsi managed to get Gordon to pop out for the one-out save.
The Lions scored their nine runs on eight hits with Nakatsuka and Buckson going 2-for-4. Omphroy also had a pair of hits.
Anthony Tellez earned the win for the Oaks after allowing four runs in 3.0 innings of work. Dahlstrom fell to 3-2 with the loss.
Game 2 – The Lions scored in five of the first six innings – notching three runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth – and provided starting pitcher Justin Graves with plenty of run support.
Vanguard stormed out to a 7-1 lead through three innings. The Lions scored a run in the first thanks to a pair of Oak errors, but began to cook on offense in the second.
With two outs, Gordon walked, stole second and came home on Lopez's single. Nakatsuka followed with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season as the Lions led 4-0.
The Oaks got a run back in their half of the second to trail 4-1. But the Lions erupted again with three runs in the third – Gordon plating two with a single as well as a Nakatsuka RBI base knock.
In the fifth, Lopez slammed a two-run homer to score Buckson, who led off with a hit by pitch. The Lions increased the lead to 10-1 after Nakatsuka doubled and Downtain singled.
Graves pitched solidly through four innings, retiring the side in the first, third and fourth. With the 10-1 lead in tow, Graves labored to get through the Oak half of the fifth.
Menlo scored five runs on six hits in the inning. Masetti cleared the bases with a triple, and the Oaks plated two more via a sac fly and wild pitch.
The Lions weren't finished supplying offense – and thankfully got three more runs in the sixth – all on solo home runs. Buckson, Gordon and Lopez went deep, with the latter two going back-to-back.
Equipped with a 13-6 lead, Jesus Munguia had a rough outing in relief. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, allowing four hits and five runs as the Oaks pulled to within two. The big blow came on a Pera grand slam. Munguia hit a batter and gave up a single before being pulled for Nate Madole, who picked off pinch runner Cooper Paulino at third base to end the inning.
Madole hit the first Menlo batter he faced in the seventh, and issued a one-out walk to put the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate. However, the southpaw fired off a pair of clutch strikeouts on Dompier and Masetti to squelch the rally and collect his fourth save.
Nakatsuka and Lopez led the 13-hit Lion offensive attack with a pair of 3-for-4 performances. Nakatsuka and Lopez both scored three runs. Nakatsuka also had three RBI, while Lopez finished with four. Gordon also had a solid game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Graves got the win to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions wrapped up the third seed in the GSAC Tournament with the split.
What Was Said?: "We haven't had an offensive explosion like that in awhile," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "We would have preferred the sweep, and almost got there with that big ninth inning in the first game. Hopefully, we can close out the GSAC schedule with another series win tomorrow."
What's Next?: The Lions and Oaks conclude their conference series with an 11:00 a.m. game on Saturday.
