AZUSA, Calif. –Azusa Pacific spotted Vanguard an 8-0 lead after 2 innings, but came all the way back to win 11-9 with a 4-run, 2-out rally in the eighth in the opening game of a GSAC doubleheader in Azusa.
However, the Lions answered right back to take a 6-0 lead in the nightcap, and this time they held on for a 9-3 win in the nightcap.
In the opener, Vanguard rocked Cougar starter Mike Medlock for 8 runs and 8 hits, including a pair of 3-run home runs by Scott Martin and Jason Searle in the first 2 innings to take an 8-0 lead. Medlock was pulled in favor of Brad McKinney, who went on to dazzle the Lions for the next 7 innings.
His effort on the mound paved the way for the Cougar sticks in the eighth. After coming all the way back and trailing just 8-7, Cameron Radonich, who singled with 2 outs, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 8-8. Billy Gwinn then put the Cougars on top for the first time with a 2-RBI single to left field, scoring Ryan Marcos and Nick Mercado to give the Cougars a 10-8 lead. Robbie Lindsey then drew a bases loaded walk to give the Cougars an 11-8 lead they would not relinquish.
McKinney pitched brilliantly in relief, keeping the Cougars in the game and enabling them to chip away at the deficit. The Cougars did just that, scoring 2 in each the second and third and 3 in the fourth on a 3-run blast by Shaun Beutner to get within 1 (8-7).
However, Vanguard starter Kaleo Lopez regained control and matched McKinney stride for stride for the next 3 innings until he was pulled in the seventh.
McKinney worked the final 7 innings, allowing just 6 hits and a solo home run in the ninth for his lone run of the day. He struck out 2 to pick up his first win of the season.
Radonich finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs. Matt Dzama, Lindsey and Jake Haaker each had 2 hits. Haaker hit his first career home run to put the Cougars on the board in the second.
The nightcap was another story, however, as All-GSAC pitcher Marcus Harris baffled the Cougars for 7 innings to lead the Lions to the 9-3 win. He made just 1 mistake, and Gwinn made him pay with his first home run of the season, an absolute bomb to deep left field in the sixth.
Harris went 7 innings, allowing just 6 hits and 3 runs while striking out 3. He kept the Cougars scoreless for most of the game until Gwinn's sixth-inning shot. He also allowed a run in the seventh on a Haaker RBI-double.
Vanguard did its damage early, putting up back-to-back 3 spots in the second and third innings. The Lions took advantage of a Cougar error with back-to-back doubles by Martin and Justin Millward to take a 2-0 lead in the second. Millward later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
In the third, Martin and Millward again delivered back-to-back doubles, driving in another 3 runs to double the Lion lead to 6-0 and in the process chasing starter Kelly Strickland from the mound. Strickland suffers his fourth loss of the season after lasting just 2.1 innings and allowing 5 earned runs.
Offensively, Lindsey had 2 of the Cougars' 6 hits. He finished with 4 hits on the day, going 4-for-6 with 2 runs and an RBI. Gwinn finished with 3 runs and 4 RBIs.
With the split, Azusa Pacific is now 8-9 overall, 5-5 GSAC. Vanguard moves to 12-9, 6-4.
