La Mirada, Calif. - Continuing a four-game series with the Biola Eagles, the Vanguard Lions slammed four home runs on their way to a 12-6 victory. Senior Kip Masuda and junior Tyson Leighton each launched two long balls for the Lions, combining to drive in 10 of VU's 12 runs in the game.

It was another good day for the Lion pitching staff as starter Jason Dovel worked five innings of six-hit ball. Allowing four runs, three earned, Dovel struck out two batters before he left the game with a 7-4 lead. Three innings of solid relief from Adrian Mendoza helped Dovel improve to 4-0 this season and earned Mendoza his first save of the season.

Offensively, the Lions were on fire again, following a 22-hit day yesterday against the Eagles. Vanguard out-hit the Eagles 14-11, but the most damage was done by Masuda and Leighton, who had three hits, five RBIs, and two runs apiece.

Vanguard jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first, but took a commanding 6-0 lead in the third as the Lions piled on four more runs, including three on Leighton's first home run of the day. Masuda socked a solo shot in the fifth and delivered a two-run dinger in VU's three-run seventh. Vanguard's consistent offensive production overshadowed and nullified Biola's three two-run innings as the Lions never let the Eagles get back in the game. Leading 10-6, Leighton crushed any Biola hopes with his two-run blast in the top of the ninth, completing the scoring for both teams.

Brandon Young and Eric Krzysiak added three and two hits, respectively, and Young knocked in the other two runs for the Lions as Vanguard improves to 24-5 overall with today's win.

Biola slips to 16-8 overall and 10-7 in GSAC while the Lions remain in first place in the GSAC standings at 15-3. The teams will return to action on Saturday in Costa Mesa where they will complete the four-game series with a double header, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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