COSTA MESA, Calif. – After winning the first game of the series the Lions (20-12, 14-10) were unable to complete the sweep, splitting the afternoon's doubleheader against the visiting Biola University Eagles (11-17, 9-15), taking the first game 4-2, and dropping the nightcap 9-2.

Game One: Vanguard 4, Biola 2:

Vanguard was able to strike early in the first game, and found themselves up after just one inning when Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) and Justin Vega (SO/Chatsworth, CA) hit back-to-back singles into left field, and Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) hit a single into right field to collect the RBI, sending Vega home and giving the Lions the 1-0 lead. Scott Torrey (SR/Simi Valley, CA) would go to work from there, and had a great start to the game, not allowing a run through the first four innings.

The Lions would add to the lead, scoring a run in both the third and fourth inning, extending the lead for Torrey. In the third inning it was Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) who got things going with a single into right field, followed by a stolen base. Keating would then hit an infield single, advancing Rojas to third and proceed to steal second. A throwing error from Biola allowed Rojas to score from third, giving the Lions the 2-0 advantage. In the fourth inning it would be Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) who started things off with a two-out single into left field. As he has done for most of the year, Sandoval would get into scoring position with a steal, and Vega would send him home with a single into center field, extending the lead to 3-0.

Torrey was unable to hold on to the shut out, as the Eagles responded in the fifth inning with two runs to bring it to 3-2, but Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) would come in to relieve Torrey in the seventh, and the Eagles could not plate another batter through the end of the game. Vanguard would still add an insurance run in the seventh inning after Keating, David Stone (SR/Huntington Beach, CA), and Brett Collins loaded the bases, and Keating would cross the plate after a wild pitch, giving the Lions the 4-2 lead.

With the win Torrey improved to 3-0 on the season, while McKinnon earned his third save of the year. Keating went three-for-five in the game with one RBI and one run.

Game Two: Vanguard 2, Biola 9:

The second game of the doubleheader saw the Lions come out flat, and the Eagles were able to take advantage early and often. After two innings the Lions found themselves down 4-0, and struggled to find any hits against the Eagles starter, Eric Diomartich. The Lions were able to cut the lead down to 4-1 in the third inning after Sandoval started things off with a double into right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sandoval was able to cross the plate when Keating slapped a ball to the Eagles second baseman, and he opted to throw Keating out on the play.

The Eagles would add to their lead in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring one run in the fourth, and then having an outburst in the fifth, scoring four runs to drop the Lions down 9-1. Vanguard would score another run to cut the lead to 9-2 after Keating sent Shane Elias-Calles (SO/Mission Viejo, CA) home with a single, but that would be it. The Lions struggled from the plate the rest of the day, and would only be able to garner six hits through the course of the game.

Vanguard currently sit in fourth place in the GSAC standings, and will look to improve their conference record next week with a home series against William Jessup University. The first game is set for Friday, March 21 at 3:00 pm, with a double header scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at Noon.

-GOLDPRIDE-