COSTA MESA, Calif. - Vanguard squeezed in one game on Friday against Saint Katherine after having the two previous canceled due to the rain. The Lions defeated the Firebirds 11-0, fueled by 11 hits from seven Lions. VU is now 9-1 this year. 

In the bottom of three, Josh Weeks (JR/Murrieta, CA) had a lead off single followed by a Grady Conner (JR/Costa Mesa, CA) base hit to move him over. Weeks advanced to third on a wild pitch and score on the sacrifice fly from Sam Neufeld (SR/Indio, CA). VU extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Caleb Squire (SR/Arvada, CO) started things with a walk and Landon Riker (JR/Marysville, WA) singled up the middle and Julio Rivera (SR/Puerto Rico) singled next to score Squire. In the bottom of the fifth, Conner collected his second hit, and score on a Maxx Mahon (SR/Lexington, KY) double to right center. Riker, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored the second run of the inning for the 4-0 lead. In the sixth, the Lions tallied three runs on three hits. They repeated in the seventh with a trio of runs, highlighted by hits from Chad Sutton (SO/Scottsdale, AZ) and Conner. The final Lion run came in the eighth when Isaiah Lee (FR/Santa Ana, CA) scored on an error. 

Schuyler Hill (SR/Long Beach, CA) earned the win from four innings on the mound with seven strikeouts and only two hots allowed. Michael Kashou (JR/Anaheim, CA) threw three innings with four strikeouts, allowing no hits. Conner went 4-4 with two runs and two RBI. River had two hits with two runs. Sutton tallied one hit, two runs and one RBI. 

"It was a good bounce back win," Assistant Coach Ryan Heinle said. "The hitters did good job applying pressure every inning. Hill gave us a chance for a win and the bullpen closed it out."

Next Game: Monday, Feb. 18th against La Sierra at 12 p.m. in Costa Mesa, CA. 

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