COSTA MESA – The No. 15 Vanguard baseball team solidified its third place standing in the tough Golden State Athletic Conference with a pair of low scoring victories on Friday at Dean Harvey Field, defeating San Diego Christian 3-2 and 3-0.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning in game one before the Hawks scratched out two runs to overtake the Blue and Gold. But the Hawks could not prevent the VU comeback as two walks, a sac bunt, a single and three wild pitches led to a two-run response. SDCC reliever Chandler DeJong struggled to find the plate and his wayward pitch to the backstop scored pinch runner Drew Seidel with the winning run.

In game two, Justin Graves tossed a two-hit shutout on 85 pitches as the Lions won 3-0 in the seven-inning affair. The southpaw walked two and struck out six to improve to 4-1 on the season. VU posted single runs in the second, fourth and fifth to back Graves, who upped his school record career win total to 27.

Dane Nakatsuka, Oscar Diaz and Luke Arias had two-hit games on the day and Tommy Rodriguez returned from the injured list with a pair of stolen bases.

VU bettered its record to 29-12 and 13-7 in the GSAC, while SDCC fell to 11-27 and 7-14 in league action.

What Happened?

Game 1 – Jacob Dahlstrom came tantalizingly close to dealing his own shutout, but settled for the tough luck no decision.

The right-hander went eight-plus innings, allowing four hits and one run while walking one and striking out eight. He had a 1-0 lead entering the top of the ninth when Hudson Beamon's comebacker deflected off Dahlstrom for an infield single.

With his pitch count at 97, Dahlstrom exited in favor of Jackson Webber.

SDCC got runners on first and second as Matt Beckworth hit a squib shot that fell just inside the third base line for another infield single. Alec Arnone followed with a ground out that advanced both runners 90 feet, and Tre Pankratz lifted a fly ball to center that was just deep enough to score Beamon.

Beckworth advanced to third on the sac fly, and came home for the 2-1 lead when the next batter, Jake Luther, punched a single into left field.

Chay Esqueda pitched a clean eighth for the Hawks, and DeJong came on to close out the game in the ninth. But pinch hitter Marco Lopez exercised patience and drew a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Christopher Famolaro moved to second on a Tyler Gordon sac bunt.

DeJong threw the first of three wild pitches as Famolaro advanced to third. DeJong's accuracy issues continued as he walked Luke Arias to put runners at the corners. Nakatsuka tied the game on an opposite field single to left.

Both he and pinch runner Drew Seidel moved to second and third when DeJong uncorked another wild pitch with Michael Downtain at the plate. During that same at-bat, DeJong airmailed another pitch over the catcher's head, and Seidel did not hesitate to score from third for the walkoff win.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Downtain drew a leadoff walk off SDCC starter Gavin Perry, who pitched seven quality innings and struck out eight. Downtain hustled to third on a Diaz single with one out, and Antonio Omphroy laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Downtain.

VU had runners in scoring position in the first, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth, but failed to get any additional runs across. The Lions had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh but Perry escaped on a fielder's choice to nab a runner at home, followed by a pop out and ground out.

Webber got the win to improve to 6-2 on the season, while DeJong moved to 0-3.

Game 2 – Graves found his groove early as he retired the first nine Hawks before Beamon singled to lead off the fourth.

Beamon eventually made it to third on a sac bunt and third base steal, but Graves got Luther to fly out to preserve the zero.

He struck out the side in the fifth despite allowing his only two walks in the inning. After allowing another leadoff single to Beamon in the sixth, Graves buckled down and retired the Hawks on a fly out and two ground outs.

Graves sat down the final six SDCC hitters as he pitched a clean seventh to wrap up the shutout victory.

Hawk starter Joshua Ross walked Diaz to start the second, but struck out the next two Lions. Famolaro's double into the left center alley scored pinch runner Aaron Zubiate for the 1-0 VU lead.

The Lions came up empty in the third after loading the bases, but scratched in another run in the fourth. Fred Buckson stroked a double down the left field line to begin the inning. He scored on Gordon's ground ball, which went under the SDCC first baseman's glove for an error.

In the fifth, the Lions manufactured their third run. Stevens earned a leadoff walk and Rodriguez replaced him on first as a pinch runner. Jacob Kokeny entered in relief of Ross for the Hawks, and Rodriguez pressured him immediately, stealing second and scooting to third on a wild pitch. Rodriguez came home on Diaz's grounder to second.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions have strung together four winning streaks lasting at least five games this season.

What Was Said?: "We got great pitching performances from Dahlstrom and Graves, and did just enough on offense to earn the victories," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "We left some opportunities out there to score additional runs, and need to improve offensively, which I think we will."

What's Next?: The Lions host the Hawks for a Saturday doubleheader at Dean Harvey Field. Game one counts toward the GSAC standings, and begins at 11:00 a.m. Game two will count only toward the overall records.