COSTA MESA -- Returning for two seven-inning games on Saturday, Vanguard baseball broke even with the Silverswords of Chaminade University of Honolulu. CUH emerged as the better side in game one with a 7-2 victory, but the home side bounced back for a 3-2 triumph in the twin bill. The Lions went to 11-26 overall and 8-23 in Pacific West Conference games, while CUH went to 8-31, 6-27.
What Happened? After
Shamir Marshall cleared CUH in order in the top of the first, the Lions quickly gave their starter a lead.
Tyler Shigenaka opened the frame with a walk, and
Tristan Gallegos followed with a single to center field.
Joshua Sur was up next, and he smacked a ball to the fence in the left-center gap, clearing the bases to vault VU to a 2-0 edge.
However, the Silverswords mustered a rebuttal in the top of the third, as an error and a walk, followed by two stolen bases, put runners at second and third. A single to center field brought both CUH players home, knotting the score at 2-2. Despite walking the next hitter, Marshall then snagged a big strikeout to retire the side.
Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to produce another hit over the final four frames, as Chaminade's pitching and defense prevailed. At the same time, the Silverswords swung into the lead with four runs in the fourth, with an insurance tally put on the board in the seventh to win 7-2.
CUH had 11 hits, two errors, and eight runners left on base. VU had two hits, one error, and five runners left on base. Marshall took the loss, falling to 0-2, fanning four in a tick over three innings.
Nathaniel Garcia,
Dylan Scott (two Ks), and
Khoi Anderson filled out the ranks the rest of the way.
Game 2
Both sides were stymied through four intervals, though Chaminade almost scored in the fourth. An error let a runner reach second, and he then tried to score on a single, but Shigenaka made a perfect throw right to
Dash Lopez at the plate to tag him out.
However, CUH punted two tallies on the scoreboard in the fifth using a pair of hits. Yet, the Blue and Gold got some steam built up in the bottom half, as
Bennett Vondrak led off with a single.
Nathan Hellein hit his own single, and a walk to Lopez put three VU runners on. A sacrifice fly from Gallegos made it 2-1, and Sur was hit by a pitch to juice the bases again.
Jaxson Davis provided a game-winning single to left field, and though he was thrown out trying to sneak to second on the throw home, his knock registered two runs, which put VU ahead for good 3-2.
Dylan Henson saw two Silverswords reach in the sixth, but he negated the threat with a strikeout to end the frame. He then got through the seventh to secure the win, as the Lions ended the day with a split.
VU used three hits to score three runs and survived five errors, leaving five runners on base. CUH had four hits and seven runners left aboard. Henson got the win and improved to 4-3, joining starter
Christopher Ceballos with three punchouts.
What's Next? Both teams return on Monday for a nine-inning contest at 2:30 p.m. to close out the series.
