COSTA MESA – Vanguard baseball posted a 5-4 and 10-1 doubleheader sweep of Menlo in Golden State Athletic Conference baseball action on Friday at Dean Harvey Field.
The Lions moved to 16-8 overall and 5-5 in GSAC action, while the Oaks fell to 4-13 and 0-7 in conference play.
Spencer Edmondson and Jake Hiner provided quality pitching starts. The Lions used some late inning clutch hitting to take game one, and jumped all over Menlo starting hurler Nolan Rodriguez in game two.
First baseman Antonio Omphroy belted his fourth home run of the year in game one. Outfielder Corey Jarrell and catcher Abraham Hernandez posted three hits apiece in game two – fueling a 13-hit offensive attack that led to the team's ninth double-digit run output this season.
Game 1 – No. 17 Vanguard 5, Menlo 4
In a makeup of a February 17 game rained out in Atherton, the Lions were the designated visiting team.
Menlo took a 1-0 in the bottom of the first on a Jonathan Charboneau sacrifice fly.
The Lions had a difficult time solving Menlo starting pitcher Cody Carson, managing just three baserunners through the first four innings via two Oak errors and a walk.
Omphroy changed all that with one swing of the bat in the top of the fifth, unloading on Carson inside the left field foul pole. The blast also scored Tevis Payne, who got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
VU played some heads up defense to prevent a run in the Oak half of the second. With runners at the corners, an attempted double steal backfired as Sage Pera was nabbed at the plate on a 2-4-2 exchange.
Edmondson retired nine straight before allowing a two out walk to Carter Harris in the fifth. Harris stole second and then benefited from a VU throwing error on Ethan Baird's grounder to shortstop. The airmailed throw allowed Harris to score from second. Fortunately, a strong throw from Omphroy near the first base fence nailed Baird attempting to reach second.
Edmondson continued his solid mound work as he retired the Oaks in the sixth and seventh. He allowed a one out infield hit to Harris, but got Baird to ground into an easy 1-6-3 double play to end the eighth.
Carson matched zeroes getting the Lions to go in order in the sixth and seventh. Steven Casas got aboard thanks to a gaffe by the Menlo shortstop – the third error of the game for the Oaks – but was erased on a 4-6-3 double play.
Starting the ninth with the score still tied at 2-2, Carson was greeted by a leadoff single from Jarrell, followed by a walk to Nino Vultaggio. Head coach Rob Pegg called upon Brendan Wagner to pinch hit for No. 3 hitter Fred Buckson, looking to sacrifice both runners into scoring position.
Wagner succeeded as his bunt down the third base line was perfectly placed, and he beat out the throw for an infield single that loaded the bases. Oscar Diaz then ripped a deep fly that sailed over the Menlo center fielder's head for a 2-RBI double.
That ended the afternoon for Carson, who was replaced by Brandon Moreno. Payne delivered an RBI single to score Wagner as the Lions picked up a huge insurance run to lead 5-2.
The insurance run was crucial as Pera blasted a two-run homer to right in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Jase Schueller. However, the right-hander got Jayshaun Wise to ground out to second to end the game.
Edmondson got the win to improve to 4-1, while Schueller secured his third save. Edmondson lasted 8.0 innings, scattering six hits and two runs (one earned). He fanned eight Oaks.
Game 2 – No. 17 Vanguard 10, Menlo 1
Hiner made his first start since February 16 at Menlo and dealt 5.0 solid innings, allowing just four hits and one run while walking two and striking out five.
Menlo's lone run occurred in the fourth on a Dominic Anderson-Nakagawa RBI single.
The Lions scored at least one run in six of the eight innings.
VU took the lead for good with a three-run second as two Oak errors allowed Payne to get all the way to third. Jarred Mazzaferro's sac fly to right scored Payne with an unearned run as the Lions took a 1-0 lead. The Lions applied more pressure on Rodriguez with an Omphroy walk and Hernandez double. Consecutive Rbi singles by Casas and Jarrell extended the VU lead to 3-0.
The Lions added single runs in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh to bust out to a 7-1 advantage. Hernandez and Omphroy had RBI hits, and Jarrell slammed a solo shot to lead off the sixth. It was his second dinger of the season. Jarrell delivered his third RBI of the game with a single down the left line, plating Christopher Famolaro in the seventh.
VU tacked on three more runs in the eighth off Menlo reliever Nicholas Liechty,, fueled by an run-scoring triple from Aaron Zubiate, who drove in Buckson after a one-out walk. The Oaks committed their fourth and fifth errors of the game to set up the final two runs. Hernandez ended the onslaught with an RBI single to right.
Jackson Webber, Kevin Pence and Pablo small tossed a combined 4.0 innings of scoreless relief. Webber fanned three and did not allow a hit in two innings of work. Small struck out two in his one inning on the mound.
Hiner earned the win to move to 2-1 on the year, while Rodriguez fell to 0-1.
Why Is It Important?: After being held to one run in two of the three games at Arizona Christian last weekend, the Lions have scored 33 runs over the last three games.
What Was Said?: "It feels good to get the bats going a bit," said Pegg. "Edmondson and Hiner gave us great efforts and we definitely needed these wins. We hope to get back after it tomorrow."
What's Next?: The Lions and Oaks finish out the series with another doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
