COSTA MESA – Fast starts aided the Vanguard baseball team in a pair of 12-0 and 5-1 victories on Saturday at Dean Harvey Field, as the Lions completed the series sweep of Jessup.

VU outscored Jessup 35-11 in the four wins, the first three of which counted in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings. The Lions emerged 21-11 overall and 8-7 in conference play, while the Warriors fell to 12-15-1 and 6-9-1 in league action.

The Lions scored first inning runs in all four games, putting the Warriors on their heels from the outset.

VU got outstanding pitching performances from Dylan McDonald (SR/Pacifica, CA) and Jesus Munguia (JR/Anaheim, CA), who each tossed six innings and allowed just one run combined. As a whole, the Lion pitching staff combined to strike out 22 Warriors on the day. Munguia carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

The offense bombarded Jessup pitching with a seven-run fourth inning in game one and scored in each of the first three innings of game two to do its part.

Michael Downtain (JR/Menifee, CA) and Oscar Diaz (JR/Los Angeles, CA) homered in game one. Diaz scored four runs and drove in six during the four-game series.

What Happened?

Game 1 – Three Lion pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout in a 12-0 victory, the fifth time the team blanked an opponent this season.

McDonald allowed just four hits and a pair of walks in his 6.0 innings of work. He struck out seven and allowed only one Jessup player to get into scoring position. McDonald started his outing striking out the first six Warriors.

Offensively, the Lions scored a run in the first on a Diaz RBI single up the middle. But they did their most damage with a seven-run outbreak in the fourth to effectively put the game away.

The big blow came off the bat of Downtain, who unloaded a mammoth three-run shot over the right field fence to put the Lions up 8-0. The Warriors prolonged the inning on an error by their catcher, resulting in Fred Buckson (SO/Silverdale, WA) stealing third and coming home on the miscue. VU also got runs on a single by Antonio Omphroy (SR/Honolulu, HI), a bunt from Marco Lopez (FR/Torrance, CA) and a sacrifice fly by Emiliano Alarcon (SO/Monmouth, OR).

VU extended the lead to 9-0 in the sixth after Alarcon singled and came home on a Christopher Famolaro (SO/San Diego, CA) triple.

VU completed its scoring with three more runs in the seventh. Diaz blasted a solo homer to right for the 10th run. Omphroy followed with a single for his second hit of the game, and pinch hitter Caleb Oddo (JR/Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) doubled him to third. Omphroy scored on a wild pitch, and pinch hitter Corey Jarrell (JR/Brewster, WA) stroked a single through the right side to plate Oddo.

Jackson Webber (SR/Bothell, WA) struck out four straight Warriors across his two innings of scoreless relief and Jake Hiner (FR/Hemet, CA) pitched an effective ninth.

Downtain finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Diaz was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Omphroy 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Game 2 – Jessup overhauled its lineup in the designated seven-inning nonconference game, but the Lions kept trucking in the 5-1 victory.

Munguia delivered a gem as he carried a no-hitter through five innings. The attempt to make history ended as Dirk Ryan – the leadoff hitter in the sixth – belted a home run over the left field fence for Jessup's only run that afternoon.

Munguia walked four and fanned a season-high seven to pick up his third win. Jessup used five pitchers, with the Lions scoring at least one run off the first three.

Jessup starter Richard Vidal retired the first two VU hitters in the first, but a two-out rally resulted in a pair of runs. Stevens started the surge with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Diaz cashed him in with an opposite field single. Vidal walked two more Lions to load the bases, and his second wild pitch of the inning brought home Diaz for the 2-0 lead.

VU added a third run in the second as Alarcon got aboard on a bunt single, stole second, and eventually came around on Nakatsuka's RBI single off Jessup reliever Preston Brook.

Keola Yim took over mound duties for Jessup in the third, and the Lions greeted him with more station-to-station offense. Stevens walked, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Diaz rolled an RBI groundout to short to score Stevens.

Omphroy restarted the cycle by drawing a walk, stealing second and going to third as the catcher's throw sailed into center field. Buckson delivered an RBI single as the Lions extended the lead to 5-0.

Quincy Vassar (SR/Brewster, WA) struck out the side in a scoreless seventh. Vidal took the loss to fall to 0-1.

Why Is It Important?: VU needed to rekindle its winning ways after losing three close games to Westmont last weekend. The Lions did just that while playing well in all facets. VU successfully stole 12 bases in 13 attempts during the series.

What Was Said?: "We came out this series with renewed focus, and the guys got the job done," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "I thought our pitching did well and the offense applied constant pressure throughout all four games. We need to bottle this energy up and take it to Arizona next weekend."

What's Next?: The Lions play four games at OUAZ, with the first three counting in the GSAC standings. VU opens Friday's doubleheader with a 2:00 p.m. game.