Riverside, Calif. - The first game of the four-game series between the No. 4-ranked California Baptist Lancers and the Vanguard Lions proved to be a battle to the very end, but the higher ranked Lancers had the final word today on their home field with a 7-6 walk-off victory. After the lead changed hands multiple times, Matt Marnati singled home the game-ending run with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, adding another heart-breaking loss to VU's results column.

Gabriel Garcia gave the Lions another good start on the mound as the southpaw started out with a pair of shutout innings before the Lancers combined two hits to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Kyle Hardman smashed his third home run in the past two games to tie the score 1-1, only to have the Lancers retake the lead in the home half of the fourth when Zach Esquerra drove a solo shot over the fence in left field for a 2-1 CBU advantage.

The Lions tied the game in the sixth on an RBI by Jacob Domingos to score Hardman, but the lead was short-lived as the Lancers answered back with a three-run homer from Sharif Othman in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Vanguard brought in Mike Leal to pitch with one out in the top of the seventh and the score remained 5-2 heading into the top of the eighth with the Lions still facing Lancer starter Taylor Siemens, who cruised into the frame with a five-hitter and a three-run lead intact. However, the Lions would solve Siemens' secret as they posted a four-run rally to claim a 6-5 lead. Eric Sanchez ignited the Lions with a one-out double and scored on a single from Hardman, who promptly stole second base. Senior center fielder Tyson Leighton singled home Hardman and scored on a two-run blast from Jeremiah Mejia to cap the Lion rally.

Leal breezed through the bottom of the eighth and struck out the first batter in the ninth, but a Vanguard error opened the door for a Lancer comeback. A single put the lead runner in scoring position and a Cole Bullard double tied the game. Leal intentionally walked Ryan Douglass to load the bases and set up a force play, but Marnati did not play into Vanguard's hands. Marnati's single to left-center scored pinch-hitter Matt Johnson with the game-winning, walk-off run for the Lancers, handing Leal the loss (3-3) and CBU reliever Patrick Smith the win (4-0) in the process. 

Led by Leighton with three hits and Hardman and Mejia with two each, including a homer, the Lions equaled CBU with ten hits in the game.