La Mirada, CA---The Vanguard Lions visited NAIA No. 10 Biola University for game two of the week's four-game series hoping to earn VU's first conference victory of the year. However, the Blue and Gold struggled to push runs across the plate, stranding ten runners in a 6-1 loss. Bryce Arroyo and Adonis Tountas both had solid days for the Lions at the dish, but the duo could not propel the Lions past the Eagles' Chris Baek, who earned the win for Biola.
Vanguard scored their lone run in the top of the first inning, using a two-out single from right-fielder Brandon Young, scoring JT Truhett, who had walked. However, the host Eagles captured the lead in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs off VUSC starter Gabe Garcia thanks to a Vanguard error and a home run.
BU scored another run in the second and one more in the fourth to make it 4-1. In between, the Pride had a golden opportunity to get back in the contest in the third inning. However, VU was unable to convert a bases-loaded, two-out situation into runs, and the BU momentum continued.
Still in striking distance, the Lions had another opportunity in the top of the seventh, when Truhett advanced to second with one out. Yet two straight VU hitters grounded out, and Biola capitalized with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, all but sealing the win for the Eagles.
The Lions could not put a runner in scoring position in the final two innings of play, and fell by the score of 6-1. Garcia (2-3) was tagged with the loss, while Baek earned the victory. VU managed seven hits to the Eagles' eight, led by Arroyo and Tountas, who each recorded two hits.
With the win, Biola improved to 11-12 overall, including a 5-5 mark in GSAC action. Vanguard fell to 8-8 this season with the program's sixth straight defeat, all to conference foes. Vanguard will hope to turn their fate Saturday morning, when the Lions host the same BU squad for a twinbill in Costa Mesa. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
