COSTA MESA – Vanguard completed a four-game sweep against San Diego Christian with 4-0 and 5-4 victories on Saturday at Dean Harvey Field to run its winning streak to seven straight.

Dylan McDonald tossed a gem in game one, going all nine innings for the five-hit shutout. He walked just one and struck out 10 on 111 pitches to move to 5-2 on the season.

In game two, the Lions used a two-run fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie as clutch hits from Oscar Diaz and Fred Buckson carried the Blue and Gold to its second one-run win in the series. The Hawks cut their deficit to 5-4 with a run in the seventh – and had the tying and go-ahead runs on base – but Nate Madole induced a pair of groundouts to earn the save.

The Lions are now 31-12 overall, winners of 14 of their last 15 games. They swept their third consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference series. The fourth win in the SDCC series counted toward the overall records only.

SDCC fell to 11-29 overall.

What Happened?

Game 1 – McDonald took the hill on a beautiful, sunny day in Costa Mesa and turned in a masterful performance.

All five hits he allowed were singles and he did not allow a Hawk to get into scoring position until the ninth inning. The right-hander struck out at least one batter in six of the nine innings, and he retired 12 out of 13 hitters during one stretch.

VU's defense supported McDonald as well. After surrendering a leadoff single in the second, McDonald struck out the last two hitters after catcher Luke Arias nabbed Tre Pankratz attempting to steal second.

Peyton Berroth led off the third with a single, but was erased as Alex Hall grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

In the seventh, Alec Arnone singled with one out, but VU right fielder Michael Downtain nailed him at second as he looked to stretch the hit into a double.

McDonald picked up steam as the game wore on, striking out the side in the eighth. He gave up a pair of singles in the ninth, but got Arnone to pop out to end the game.

The Lions tallied three runs in the fifth off SDCC starter Brock Arnold. Christopher Famolaro singled and stole second, coming around on a Tyler Gordon double down the left field line. Luke Arias cashed in Gordon with a single, and moved to second on an error by the left fielder. Pinch runner Aaron Zubiate advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Dane Nakatsuka followed with an RBI single.

The Blue and Gold went up 4-0 in the sixth. Antonio Omphroy doubled with one out, and pinch runner Gabe Gonzales moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch from Hawk reliever Spencer Jenkins. After a Diaz walk, Buckson reached on a fielder's choice and drove in Gonzales for one of his two RBI on the day.

McDonald did the rest as VU won its seventh game this season via shutout.

Game 2 – Vanguard pounced on Hawk starter Keanu Walcush for three runs in the first inning.

Nakatsuka and Downtain posted back-to-back singles, and Omphroy moved them over a base with a sac bunt. Nakatsuka scored the first run on a passed ball, and Diaz drove in Downtain with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. The Lions took advantage of Buckson's speed for the third run as he walked and stole second, and scored on a Gordon RBI single.

VU starter Jesus Munguia pitched a clean first and battled around a pair of walks in the second to deal the Hawks a pair of zeroes. He limited the damage in the third as SDCC had the bases loaded with one out via a single, walk and hit by pitch. Berroth singled with two outs to score Hall to cut VU's lead to 3-1.

However, Munguia got the next hitter to fly out to end the threat.

Munguia left after four innings, allowing just two hits and a run while striking out three.

The Hawks tied the score with two runs off VU reliever Quincy Vassar in the fifth. Three singles loaded the bases for Isaac Snyder, who walked to score pinch hitter Matt Fucella. Kyle Hoskins entered for Vassar and hit Trevor Baker with a pitch to bring in the tying run. 

Hoskins extinguished the Hawk rally as Joey Scotvold grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

VU repaid the favor with a two-run fifth to retake the lead. The Lions got the leadoff man aboard for the third time in the game as Downtain doubled to left center. With one out, Diaz stroked a double down the right field line to plate the pinch running Zubiate.

With the Lions leading 4-3, Buckson dropped a base hit into center to bring home pinch runner Caleb Oddo.

Madole tossed a scoreless sixth, helping his own cause after picking off pinch runner Matt Beckworth at first base.

Madole took a 5-3 lead into the seventh and got the first out. Pankratz drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Berroth followed with a single to right as Pankratz came home to cut the deficit to 5-4. Snyder hit an infield single to put runners at first and second.

With the pressure mounting, Madole got the next two Hawks to ground out to preserve the win and pick up his third save.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions did not commit an error the entire series and the pitching staff posted a cumulative 1.69 ERA over the four games.

What Was Said?: "I'm pleased with how cleanly we played on defense as well as our pitching against San Diego Christian," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "McDonald was great and we did just enough to win the last one."

What's Next?: The Lions travel to northern California for their final GSAC regular season series against Menlo on Friday and Saturday.