COSTA MESA – Completing the rescheduled series against The Master's Mustangs on Monday, Vanguard baseball once more piled onto the Dean Harvey Field in victory.  The Lions picked up an early lead and survived a late TMU surge to win 4-2, improving to 17-8 overall and 5-4 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.  The Mustangs drop to 15-8 overall and 3-6 in GSAC play. 

What Happened?   The Lions got a quality start from Quincy Vassar (SR/Brewster, WA), who gave up only three hits through five innings, with no TMU runners getting to third base during that span.  With no runs in the top of the first, the Blue and Gold opened the scoring in the bottom half.  Dane Nakatsuka (SR/Laguna Niguel, CA) singled and Adam Stevens (SR/West Linn, OR) drew a walk.  A wild pitch scooted both runners over to second and third and Antonio Omphroy (SR/Honolulu, HI) cashed in Nakatsuka with a sac fly to left.  Stevens was left on base, but Vanguard took a 1-0 into the second.  

With Vassar setting the Mustangs down in order in the top of the second, VU doubled the lead in the home half of the frame.  Emiliano Alarcon (SO/Monmouth, OR) took a leadoff walk and Christopher Famolaro (SO/San Diego, CA) singled to center after that, with Alarcon getting to third.  Tyler Gordon (FR/Orange, CA) then dropped a bunt and the Mustang third baseman turned to race over to third, but Alarcon got back to the base.  With Gordon and Famolaro reaching safely, the bases were loaded for Tommy Rodriguez (SR/Yucaipa, CA), who took a walk to increase the lead to 2-0.  Vanguard then got some help from The Master's pitcher, who sailed a throw over first base on a pickoff attempt.  Famolaro scored but the Mustangs recovered to throw out Gordon as he tried to score from second, ending the inning with the Blue and Gold ahead 3-0.

The next action would come in the bottom of the fifth, as Rodriguez took a walk and then stole second.  A sac-fly for Stevens got Rodriguez to third and Omphroy swatted a single to left to bring Rodriguez home, as the advantage jumped to 4-0.

Vassar gave up a walk and a single in the top of the sixth but got a flyout to end the threat.  He proceeded to strikeout out the first TMU batter in the top of the seventh but then hit the next Mustang.  The runner stole second and a two-out single allowed the Mustangs to post their first run of the game.  Kyle Hoskins (SR/Tustin, CA) came in from the pen and got a flyout to keep the VU lead at 4-1.

Both sides went down in order in the eighth and Jesus Munguia (JR/Anaheim, CA) attempted to pick up the save in the ninth after a clean debut in the eighth.  The first TMU hitter doubled to deep center and Munguia walked the next hitter.  The Master's then loaded the bases as the next batter was hit by a pitch, forcing Munguia out.  Nate Madole (JR/Huntington Beach, CA) jogged in to relieve him and got a flyout and a strikeout to put VU on the brink of a win.  But the visitors were not done, as a walk made it 4-2.  With the bases still loaded, Madole did not allow the third game of the series to go to extra innings, as a ground out to Gordon ended the game.

The Lions scored four runs on five hits and left four runners on base.  TMU scored two runs on six hits, had one error, and left 10 runners on base.  Vassar goes to 3-1 on the season and fanned five in his six and two-third innings of work.  Madole collects his first career save.  Omphroy went 2-for-3 and picked up two RBI.  Famolaro was also 2-for-3 and Rodriguez had the other RBI for the Lions. 

Why is it Important?  This is the second-straight year that the Lions have won the series against the Mustangs.  VU is now 58-72 against TMU all-time and the win keeps VU within two games of Westmont at the top of the standings in the GSAC.

What was Said?  "We got a great start from Vassar," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "And we got on the board first, which was good.  This was a good series win by the entire team and we are finding ways to be successful."

What's Next?  That two-game difference will be on the line this upcoming weekend, as VU will travel to Santa Barbara and take on the Warriors for a three-game set.  Game one will be Friday at 2:00 p.m.