College baseball: Lions slumping after 8-1 loss

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - One of the many songs that blared during Vanguard

University’s 8-1 nonconference loss to visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills

Wednesday rang unfortunately true for the Lions.

The tune: Social Distortion’s Bad Luck, echoed throughout Vanguard’s

baseball diamond as the Lions suffered their fifth loss in their first

seven games. Bad luck isn’t the only enemy for Vanguard. Against Cal

State Dominguez Hills (2-0), the Lions (2-5) displayed their bad habits

of low confidence and erratic play, surrendering two runs after five

scoreless innings and giving up five runs in the final frame.

“Right now, we’re struggling with our confidence,” Vanguard Coach

Kevin Kasper said. “We’re struggling in about as many phases in the game

as we can. So it has to be good news in my mind because we have no where

to go but up.”

Vanguard senior right-handed pitcher Britt Echols battle through 6 1/3

innings, allowing three hits, three runs, four walks and striking out

two. He recorded five scoreless innings, including the fourth when he

calmly pitched the Lions out of a bases-loaded jam. Echols, a transfer

from the University of Arizona, led Toros catcher Edgar Esqueda to line

drive a shot to center field of which senior Michael Bair easily caught.

“(The Toros) came out more energetic,” said Bair, who went 2 for 2 at

the plate. “We seemed flat. We just lacked a lot of energy. Hopefully we

can fix it soon, or else our season is going to be slipping away.”

Dominguez Hills put runners on first and second after a hit by pitch

and a walk in the sixth inning, then Frank Perez smacked a two-run single

to the gap in right center field for a 2-0 lead. The Toros picked up

another run in the seventh. And the Lions pulled within, 3-1, in the

eighth.

Vanguard freshman Jason Searle, who played third base and pitched,

scored after being walked to open the inning. Junior Matt Tisthammer hit

into a double play with the bases loaded, but the Lions’ only run came

across the plate on the play.

“Offensively we’re really struggling,” Kasper said. “We can’t seem to

get anything going. We can’t get anyone on base. We’re a talented team

and I think it’s going to take some time to get out of this. We’re going

to make our own breaks. But right now we’re not getting any of our own

breaks whatsoever.”

Kasper’s words reflected on what took place in the ninth inning when

the Toros scored five runs after two outs. One run was scored on a

throwing error, while two Dominguez Hills players reached base being hit

by a pitch and a walk.

Vanguard ended the game when Dominguez Hills pitcher Brian Cortes

retired the side in order, including two strikeouts.

Toros’ pitcher Rick Moore earned his first win of the season, coming

up with seven scoreless innings that included three strikeouts and no

hits while giving up five hits.

The Lions, who defeated visiting Whittier College, 3-1, Tuesday, also featured 6-foot-10 senior right-hander P.J. McKaig at the mound. McKaig

came on in the eighth inning to face two batters and struck them out

both, using eight pitches.

Vanguard will take on Dominguez Hills again today, for its third game

in as many days, this time at the Toros’ diamond at 2 p.m.

NONCONFERENCE

Cal State Dominguez Hills 8, Vanguard 1

Cal State Dominguez Hills 000 002 105 - 8 6 0

Vanguard 000 000 010 - 1 6 2

Moore, Varela (8), Cortes (8) and Esqueda; Echols, Griggs (7), McKaig

(8), Shaffer (9), Searle (9) and Garner.

W - Moore, 1-0. L - Echols, 0-2. Sv - Cortes. 2B - Milstead (CSDH),

Marquez (CSDH), Esqueda (CSDH).