Fresno, Calif. - FPU Diamond - Playing under the lights for the first time this season did not prove beneficial for the Vanguard Lions who traveled to No. 17-ranked Fresno Pacific University for the first game of the four-game series. Trailing 8-0, the Lions posted five runs on the board in the eighth inning but is would not be enough and the Sunbirds held on for the 8-5 victory over the visiting Lions. Vanguard remains in Fresno for another game tomorrow before both teams travel back to Vanguard on Saturday for the final two games of the series, a double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. in Costa Mesa.

Fresno took a very early early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without a hit off Vanguard's starting pitcher J.R. Bromberg (1-3). Bromberg got off to a rocky start as he walked three and hit a batter for FPU's first run before an infield out put FPU out in front by two runs. Two more walks, three hits and a VU error produced four more runs in the third inning, sending the hosts on to a 6-0 lead over the Lions. The Sunbirds padded the lead to 7-0 without a hit again in the sixth inning before Tucker Woods relieved Bromberg, who was charged with seven runs, five hits, six walks, three hit batters, and the loss. Woods, who worked the final 2.1 innings, allowed one more run on one hit in the seventh inning.

The Lions, who were held to two hits through the first seven innings by FPU starter Matt Mazzoni (3-1), Vanguard jumped on reliever David Hawes right off the bat in the top of the eighth inning. J.T. Truhett was hit with a pitch to start the rally and scored on a double by Jordan Mould to put the Lions on the board. David Kiriakos singled and Brandon Young reached on an error, which also pushed home VU's second run. Alec Rosales walked to load the bases and chase Hawes for FPU's second reliever in the inning, Aaron Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick recorded the final two outs of the inning, but not before another FPU error would clear the bases, cutting the deficit to 8-5.

However, FPU brought in Michael Rivera to close the ninth and he struck out two of the Lions he faced to notch the save for the Sunbirds.

Vanguard finished with only four hits on the day, including Mould's RBI double, a bunt single by Kiriakos, and base hits by Bryce Arroyo and John Collins. The Lions, now 9-10 overall and 1-8 in GSAC, return to FPU Diamond tomorrow for a 2:00 p.m. rematch with the Sunbirds (14-12, 5-8 GSAC). Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Saturday at Vanguard, but the forecast of rain puts the double header in jeopardy. Please check back to the Vanguard athletic website for any weather related schedule changes.