COSTA MESA – Vanguard baseball completed a three-game set against SAGU (Texas) on Saturday, with the Blue and Gold fresh off a confident 12-1 win on Friday.  The battle of the Lions continued and resulted in two more Vanguard victories, as VU won 6-1 and 4-3.  Jacob Dahlstrom (JR/Renton, WA) and the home side almost picked up a no-hitter in game one and Dane Nakatsuka (SR/Laguna Niguel, CA) walked it off in game two with a sac fly.  Vanguard improves to 8-2 overall, while SAGU drops to 6-4.

What Happened? Dahlstrom was dealing filth for seven innings, and held SAGU hitless and got out of the one jam he did get in.  He hit two batters and gave up a walk, as he fanned five over his tenure on the mound, putting him in a prime position to pick up the win.

Meanwhile, Adam Stevens (SR/West Linn, OR) got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second, as he opened the inning with a double.  However, he could not be pushed home from there, as SAGU got three-straight outs.  But the offense scratched four runs across the plate in the bottom of the fourth to put VU ahead.

Stevens and Oscar Diaz (JR/Los Angeles, CA) singled to start the frame, with Antonio Omphroy (SR/Honolulu, HI) reaching on a throwing error on his sacrifice bunt attempt.  With runners everywhere, Corey Jarrell (JR/Brewster, WA) beat out a single on a ball hit toward the shortstop, with Stevens getting home on the play.  SAGU then turned a double play but a walk to Tyler Gordon (FR/Orange, CA) juiced the bases again.  Tommy Rodriguez (SR/Yucaipa, CA) came to the plate and smoked a double deep into the left-field corner, clearing the bases to put Vanguard ahead 4-0.

VU loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth but could only score one, as a sac-bunt by Jarrell brought home Nakatsuka.   Now ahead 5-0, the Lions tagged on their final run in the bottom of the seventh.  Nakatsuka singled and then stole second to get into scoring position.  A wild pitch allowed him to trot to third and Diaz hit a deep flyout to bring him home and make it 6-0.  

Dahlstrom was replaced by Jackson Webber (SR/Bothell, WA) in the top of the eighth and the new VU hurler got two-straight strikeouts and a ground out to quickly retire the side.  He also got the first out in the top of the ninth before Toby Welty (SR/Colorado Springs, CO) came on to finish off the game.  Welty got a ground out to get the Lions within one out of a no-hitter but then walked the next batter.  Nick Mosley then ended the no-no bid, as he stroked a ball to left field to give SAGU a hit on the board.  The visiting Lions proceeded to end the shutout as well, as a wild pitch advanced the runners, and a single made it 6-1.  But Welty got a strikeout to end the game, as Vanguard took the opening contest 6-1.

VU scored six runs on eight hits and left seven runners on base.  SAGU scored one run on two hits, had three errors, and left five on base.  Dahlstrom goes to 1-0 on the season. Rodriguez, Stevens, and Diaz all had two hits, with Rodriguez pacing the team with three RBI.  Jarrell was next with two RBI.

Game 2

Dylan McDonald (SR/Pacifica, CA) and Michael Watson were the two starters for the second contest and both had good outings overall.   The pair each had a scoreless first inning but would surrender a run in the second.

SAGU started the scoring in the top half, as a pair of walks put two aboard quickly.  McDonald got a pop-out and a strikeout but a single brought home the first run of the game, as SAGU grabbed its first lead of the series.  But it would not last long. 

Luke Arias (SR/Spring Valley, CA) answered that run for Blue and Gold in the bottom half, as he came to the plate with two outs. Three pitches into his at-bat, he blasted a ball through the wind and over the fence in left to tie the game at 1-1.

The SAGU Lions would go ahead again in the top of the third, as a single and a walk put two on.  Another single followed to push the visitors ahead 2-1, but McDonald would soon end the threat with a groundout and a flyout. Vanguard was quiet in the bottom of the third and fourth but then got something brewing in the bottom of the fifth.  Jarrell took a walk and Alarcon reached on a bunt.  An error let Gordon reach to load the bases and a deep flyout for Rodriguez brought in the tying run.  Buckson then picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice, as Alarcon came in to score to put the Lions ahead 3-2.

McDonald gave up a hit in the top of the sixth but he and the defense quickly retired the side.  Watson gave up singles to Stevens and Omphroy in the bottom half, but then got a flyout and a strikeout to keep his team within one.

Caden Byers (SO/Murrieta, CA) entered the ball game in the top of the seventh and gave up a walk sandwiched between two outs.  A stolen base got the SAGU runner to second and Kyle Hoskins (SR/Tustin, CA) was called in from the pen.  Unfortunately, the next SAGU hitter drilled a double to center, knotting the game at 3-3.

But the hero from the final game of the regular season last year got to play hero again today.  Alarcon singled to start the bottom of the seventh and he was bunted to second by Gordon.  Rodriguez walked and Christopher Famolaro (SO/San Diego, CA) pinch-ran for Alarcon, with both he and Rodriguez advancing one base on a wild pitch. Looking for the double play, SAGU put Buckson on first with a walk, bringing up Nakatsuka.  A few pitches later, No. 27 skied a ball deep to center that allowed Famolaro to score, walking it off for the Lions to grab a 4-3 lead.

VU scored four runs on five hits and left four runners on.  SAGU had three runs on six hits, one error, and six runners left aboard.  Hoskins picks up the win in relief, moving to 1-0 on the season.  Kaden Kneip falls to 0-1.  McDonald had four Ks in six innings of work, giving up five hits and two runs.  Five different Lions each recorded one hit and four different players drove in runs for the Blue and Gold.

Why is it Important? Vanguard sweeps the weekend to start the all-time series off 3-0. 

What's Next? The Lions will play a game against Saint Katherine on Tuesday, February 14, at 2:00 p.m. in San Marcos.