COSTA MESA – Vanguard was bit by the error bug in a 6-3 nonconference loss to Antelope Valley on Tuesday at Dean Harvey Field.

The Lions committed three errors – all in the first three innings – which led to three unearned runs and an early 4-0 deficit.

Quincy Vassar (SR/Brewster, WA) got the loss after scattering six hits over 3.0 innings. Bryce Barnett (JR/Laguna Niguel, CA) threw 3.1 terrific innings of hitless and scoreless relief before Jackson Webber (SR/Bothell, WA) and Caden Byers (SO/Murrieta, CA) each gave up a run during their stints.

Webber allowed his first earned run of the season after 22.1 innings across nine appearances.

Adam Stevens (SR/West Linn, OR) led the Lions offensively with a 2-for-3 performance. Emiliano Alarcon (SO/Monmouth, OR) added his first home run in the Blue and Gold.

The middle of the Antelope Valley order punished the Lions. The 3-4-5 hitters Kaiden Cardoso, Alec White and Dawson Bakker combined to go 6-for-13 with four runs scored and three RBI.

The Lions have now lost four of their last five games in falling to 15-7 on the season. The Pioneers improved to 8-5.

What Happened?: Vassar walked the first two hitters in the first, but got a break on Cardoso's single to center. Tommy Rodriguez (SR/Yucaipa, CA) made an outstanding throw to nab Devin Carter at the plate and prevent the run.

Vassar got an unlucky break as the next batter, White, hit a ground ball to shortstop Tyler Gordon (FR/Orange, CA). Gordon tried to force Raul Sandoval at third but his throw got past Alarcon, enabling Sandoval to score and runners to advance to second and third.

Bakker increased the Pioneer lead to 2-0 with a liner to left as Cardoso scored an unearned run. Vassar prevented further trouble getting the next two hitters to pop up.

The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the third as the Lions had additional defensive troubles. Following a Cardoso leadoff single, White lifted a fly ball to center that Rodriguez misjudged, allowing it to roll all the way to the fence for a triple. Cardoso scored easily, but Fred Buckson (SO/Silverdale, WA)'s relay throw to nail White at third skipped past Alarcon, and White trotted home for the 4-0 lead.

Lion pitching found its groove, retiring 11 straight Pioneers going into the seventh. Antelope Valley got a leadoff walk in the seventh, but the Lions did not allow a hit for four straight innings.

Alarcon led off the fifth with his first home run as a Lion, sneaking a high fly ball just inside the left field foul pole to cut UAV's lead to 4-1. The Lions cut the deficit in half with another run in the sixth. Gordon got aboard on a bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stevens drilled an RBI single to center to score Gordon.

Antelope Valley plated an insurance run in the eighth and ninth to pad the lead to 6-2. Bakker homered to left center in the eighth. In the ninth, a single, two wild pitches and another single manufactured UAV's final run.

The Lions tried to mount a rally in the bottom half of the ninth. Stevens stroked a leadoff double to left and came home via a groundout from Dane Nakatsuka (SR/Laguna Niguel, CA) and sacrifice fly by Antonio Omphroy (SR/Honolulu, HI).

Avery Rivera pitched eight strong innings for the Pioneers, allowing four hits and two runs while walking just one and striking out seven. Cameron Hunter gave up the run in the ninth for UAV.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions have hit a rough patch defensively. After committing just 13 errors through their first 16 games, they have had 17 over the last six.

What's Next?: Vanguard hosts The Master's for a three-game Golden State Athletic Conference series beginning on Friday with a single game at 2:00 p.m.