IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine baseball team powered its way to a dominant doubleheader sweep over Vanguard taking both games 10–4 and 9–6 behind an explosive offensive showing. The Golden Eagles piled up 21 hits across the two games consistently putting pressure on the Vanguard pitching staff from start to finish. The Golden Eagles move to 13-9 in PacWest and 15-15 overall.
CUI 10, VU 4
The Golden Eagles leaned on a strong collective effort on the mound to secure the win led by
Shane Timmons who earned the victory with 6.1 solid innings. Timmons allowed seven hits and four runs while striking out five. Out of the bullpen
Caden Miller was sharp in his 1.2 innings of work allowing just one hit while striking out two.
Dominic Nunes closed things out in the ninth tossing a clean inning with minimal traffic to help seal the victory.
Vanguard got things started in the second and third inning taking an early 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third
Landry Spitler worked a walk and
Sawyer Voortman followed with a fielder's choice to put pressure on the defense.
Isaiah Walz then delivered a key single to move runners into scoring position setting up
Wyatt Madison with an RBI sac fly.
The breakthrough came in the fifth inning and it came in a big way.
Nolan Caira sparked the rally with a single and after patient at-bats loaded the bases with walks from Voortman and Walz, Madison delivered the turning point of the game. The designated hitter launched a towering grand slam to right field instantly flipping a 4–1 deficit into a 5–4 CUI lead and igniting the dugout.
CUI didn't let up from there. In the sixth inning Caira again set the table with a single and
Ian Stewart followed with a two-run homer to extend the lead to 7–4. Madison stayed hot in the seventh crushing his second home run of the game this time a solo shot to right to push the advantage to 8–4. His performance anchored the offense accounting for six RBIs.
CUI added insurance in the eighth inning through disciplined hitting. After working another bases-loaded situation Walz came through with a clutch two-run single to left field driving in Stewart and Spitler to extend the lead to 10–4.
CUI 9, VU 6
The Lions struck first in the top of the opening inning giving them a 2–0 edge before the Golden Eagles could settle in. But CUI answered immediately with Walz as he sparked the offense with a bunt single setting the stage for Madison who crushed a two-run homer making that his THIRD on the day to even the score at 2–2. Caira delivered a clutch RBI single to give CUI a 3–2 lead by the end of the first and just like that momentum had flipped.
Vanguard briefly tied things up in the second with a solo home run but the Golden Eagles continued to apply pressure. In the bottom half Voortman worked a walk and came around to score on an RBI double from reclaiming the lead at 4–3.
In the bottom of the fourth the Green and Gold capitalized on small ball and situational hitting. Voortman doubled, Walz dropped down another bunt single, and after Madison was intentionally walked
Dylan Knowles came through again with a two RBI single. Caira later added a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 6–3.
Vanguard refused to go quietly taking advantage of a defensive miscue in the fifth to plate three runs and tie the game at 6–6. In the bottom of the fifth Spitler led off with a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored on a wild pitch to break the tie. Moments later
Makamae Du Pont delivered an RBI single to bring home an insurance run putting CUI back on top 8–6.
The Golden Eagles got a composed and effective outing on the mound anchored by
Matthew Kaiser who earned the win with six innings of work. He allowed seven hits while walking just one.
Caden Miller then came in to shut the door delivering a clean and confident final inning to secure his third save on the season. Miller allowed just one hit while striking out two of the four batters he faced efficiently closing out the 8–6 victory and preserving the Golden Eagles hard fought lead.
The Golden Eagles will be on the road at Vanguard to close out the series on Saturday Mar. 21 with 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. start times.
To see the full CUI baseball schedule click
HERE.
