COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Lions' baseball team recorded five runs on five hits at the VU Baseball Field on Wednesday afternoon to defeat Menlo College 5-2. With the win Vanguard improves to 7-6 overall.

The Oaks drop to 6-4 following the loss.

Vanguard fell behind 1-0 in the second but responded in third to tie the game following a wild pitch by Menlo's Derek Martinez. Junior Ian Sakry (Long Beach, Calif.) scored for the Lions on the play, after walking to lead off the inning.

Third-year Thomas Mobley (Anaheim, Calif.) crossed home plate next on a sacrifice fly from senior Adonis Tountas (Lincolnwood, Ill.) to put the Pride in the lead.  Jason Ochart (Glendale, Calif.) reached base on balls and landed the Lions' final run of the inning with heads up base-running after an Oaks' throwing error.

Ochart's speed and senior Matt Avery's (Los Alamitos, Calif.) bat put Vanguard's fourth run on the board in the fifth and the Lions tacked on another in the sixth to extend the margin to four runs (5-1).

The Oaks scored in the seventh after stalling out for five innings and put forth a strong effort in the eighth but the VU defense turned a 6-4-3 double-play to escape the inning unscathed.

The Blue and Gold pitching staff gave up eight combined hits in the competition. Sophomore Jordan Moak (Sulphur, La.) posted the win to move to 1-0 on the season.

The Lions resume Golden State Athletic Conference play on Friday at San Diego Christian. The first contest is slated for 2:00pm and the series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday.

-GOLDPRIDE