IRVINE, Calif. – Vanguard scored five runs in the eighth inning to chop away at a large deficit, but ultimately fell 9-6 to Hope International in the opening game of the Golden State Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament on Monday at the OC Great Park.
The second-seeded Royals scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to force the Lions into comeback mode. VU produced six of its nine hits in the eighth that led to the five-run outburst, but it was not enough.
The Lions struck out 15 times against three HIU pitchers, including 11 by starter Hector Garcia. The 15 strikeouts are tied for the second-most in a game this season.
VU starting pitcher Jacob Dahlstrom escaped trouble in the first and second innings while tossing a perfect third, and appeared to be locked in a pitcher's duel with Garcia.
But the Royals got their offense going in the mid-innings, and punched their ticket into the tournament's winner's bracket.
What Happened?: Consecutive one-out singles in the fourth put HIU runners at the corners, and a fielder's choice plated the first run. A Dahlstrom wild pitch allowed another run to score, and Max Jung-Goldberg's two-run shot made the score 4-0.
Dahlstrom allowed a leadoff single in the fifth, but got the next two Royals to pop out. Looking to keep the Lions within striking distance, Dahlstrom could not get the third out. Two straight singles and a two-RBI triple from David Rivera upped the HIU lead to 7-0, and ended Dahlstrom's day on the mound.
The right-hander surrendered 11 hits and eight runs in 4.2 innings, walking two and striking out three.
Jackson Webber entered in relief, and gave up a run-scoring single to Robert Mattei as HIU extended the lead to 8-0.
Meanwhile, Garcia retired 18 of the first 19 Lions he faced – and with the exception of a Tyler Gordon double down the right field line in the third inning – he carried a one-hit shutout into the seventh.
Tommy Rodriguez greeted Garcia with a towering shot to center to open the seventh. It was his seventh home run this season.
Rivera responded with a two-out solo home run of his own in the bottom half as HIU retook an eight-run lead.
But the Lions showed no quit and got back into the game with a huge eighth.
Fred Buckson singled and Antonio Omphroy golfed a moonshot over the left field fence to bring the Lions within 9-3. The two run homer – his fourth of the season – removed Garcia from the game.
Bailey Roberson came on in relief and gave up a pair of singles to Gordon and Dane Nakatsuka. With two outs, Christopher Famolaro got an infield hit to load the bases. Roberson then uncorked a wild pitch to score one run.
Later in the inning – with Steven Ordorica now in the game for HIU – Adam Stevens hit an opposite field single to send Nakatsuka and pinch runner Aaron Zubiate home. The score now 9-6, the Lions had the tying run at the plate in Buckson, but Ordorica got a big strikeout to end the inning.
Bryce Barnett and Gage Webster pitched solidly over the final three innings for the Blue and Gold, giving up just one run between them. The Lions had one last chance in the ninth, getting two runners aboard with two outs. But Ordorica got his third strikeout of the game to polish off the win and record his fifth save.
Garcia improved to 4-0 on the season, throwing 7.0 innings and allowing four hits and three runs. He did not walk a batter.
Why Is It Important?: The loss sent the Lions into the loser's bracket, where the team must win five straight games to emerge as tournament champion.
What's Next?: One step at a time. The third-seeded Lions meet No. 5 Arizona Christian in an elimination game on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
