In a pitcher’s duel at Russ Carr Field, Warrior All-American Russell Harmening suffered his first loss of the year (4-1) as Westmont Baseball (13-4, 8-3 GSAC) fell 4-0 to the Lions of Vanguard (13-5, 10-3) in a Golden States Athletic Conference game. Harmening gave up four runs (three earned) in six and one-third innings. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two.
Vanguard’s Sean Isaac (3-1) picked up the win after pitching five and one-third scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Isaac struck out four and walked six.
Despite not recording a hit until the sixth inning, Westmont loaded the bases with two away in both the third and fifth innings. However, the Warriors were unable to push across a run.
Vanguard scored what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the sixth when Brandon Sandoval scored an unearned run on a single by Brock Eissman.
The Lions added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Paul Keating doubled to right field with one away, Bettencourt delivered an RBI-single to left field. Justin Davis, who replaced Bettencourt as a courtesy runner, later scored on a ground out by Sandoval. The third run came off a single to left by Justin Vega that brought home Dylan Ramie.
Marshall McKinnon pitched the final three and two-thirds innings for the Lions, earning his second save of the year. McKinnon allowed just one hit while striking out four and giving up one walk.
The two teams will meet up again tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at eleven o’clock.
