COSTA MESA – Vanguard baseball jumped into a President's Day doubleheader against La Sierra on Monday.  The Lions celebrated by dropping two shutouts on the Golden Eagles, as VU won 5-0 and 6-0.  The defense and some small ball picked up the win in game one, while three pitchers kept LSU in check.  The second contest saw two home runs power the offense, while two Vanguard arms again limited La Sierra from the plate.  Vanguard improves to 13-3 overall, while La Sierra drops to 4-8.

What Happened?  The first game was a big moment for Jesus Barreto (SO/La Mirada, CA), who began his first start with a clean top of the first.  Credit was also due to La Sierra starter Joey Martin, who held the VU lineup in check over five innings, striking out seven and surrendering only two hits.  Sadly, Barreto was forced out of the game with an injury in the second, with Jackson Webber (SR/Bothell, WA) coming on in his place.  He gave up only one hit and fanned two in five and one-third, as he and the defense shone as the game moved along.

The Blue and Gold finally broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs.  Tommy Rodriguez (SR/Yucaipa, CA) took a walk and then stole second, with Fred Buckson (SO/Silverdale, WA) cashing him in with a double deep down the left-field line.  Buckson then got to third on a ground out and Adam Stevens (SR/West Linn, OR) pushed him home on an error by the La Sierra second baseman to put the Lions up 2-0.

Emiliano Alarcon (SO/Monmouth, OR) started the bottom of the seventh with a single and Tyler Gordon (FR/Orange, CA) again executed a bunt with style, with Alarcon safely reaching second on a bad exchange by the LSU shortstop.  Rodriguez then came to the plate and watched as both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch.  He then picked up a little league home run by smashing a single to center field, getting to second on the throw that was headed to home.  The La Sierra first baseman cut it off and tried to then pick Rodriguez off second, but the toss sailed back into center field.  Rodriguez got to third, turned for home, and the LSU catcher could not handle the relay, putting Vanguard ahead 5-0.

The eighth was quiet for both sides, with Quincy Vassar (SR/Brewster, WA) coming on and getting three quick outs in the top half of the frame.  Vassar allowed three straight singles in the top of the ninth to load the bases but then struck out the next three hitters to end the game.

Vanguard scored five runs on seven hits while leaving three runners on.  LSU had four hits, five errors, and seven runners left on base.  Webber improves to 4-0 on the season.  Rodriguez led the side with two RBI and Stevens paced the lineup by going 3-for-4.

The second game featured Jesus Munguia (JR/Anaheim, CA) on the bump for the Lions and while two Golden Eagles reached base in the top of the first, he then got a line out and a fly out to retire the side.  Oscar Diaz (JR/Los Angeles, CA) got the first VU hit with a looping double down the left field line, but the game would remain scoreless until the bottom of the third.

Alarcon reached on a single and Gordon laid down a bunt to advance him.  However, another LSU throwing error allowed him to reach first safely, with the duo again getting to second and third on a wild pitch.  This time, Rodriguez blasted his third home run of the year deep to left field, sending the Lions ahead 3-0.

Munguia would be efficient as the game moved along and Vanguard gave him some more insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Dane Nakatsuka (SR/Laguna Niguel, CA) slammed a home run deep to right to open the inning, making the score 4-0.  Diaz then reached on an error and Antonio Omphroy (SR/Honolulu, HI) took a walk.  With Aaron Zubiate (SR/Alta Loma, CA) pinch-running for Diaz, both he and Omphroy moved up a base on another wild pitch.  Alarcon then put down an infield single, with the LSU third baseman once more launching the ball to the fence.  That allowed both Zubiate and Omphroy to score, putting the Lions up 6-0.

Caden Byers (SO/Murrieta, CA) closed out the game in the top of the seventh with two strikeouts and a flyout to give Vanguard back-to-back shutouts.

Munguia improves to 2-1 on the season, as he collected three Ks and gave up four hits over six innings of work.  Rodriguez had three more RBI to lead the team, with Alarcon pacing the lineup by going 2-for-3 from the dish.

What was Said?  "Getting such great pitching and defense was great to see today," said Head Coach Rob Pegg.  "Really proud of our guys, especially after such a back-and-forth series with ACU.  We got good things going in the field and the hitting picked us up when we got the opportunities.  If we keep getting that, things will go well in the upcoming series."

What's Next?  The Lions will try to fit in a three-game series with Bethesda this week.  With rain upcoming, check the website for updates as to when the games will be scheduled.  If nothing develops, the Lions and the Flames are supposed to start on Friday at 2:00 p.m.