LANCASTER, Calif. -- Less than 24 hours after the opening day contest against the Pioneers of Antelope Valley, Vanguard baseball faced UAV for two games at their home park.  Shaking off the Friday defeat, the Lions would win both games on Saturday, taking game one 5-2 and game two 10-4.  Vanguard goes to 2-1 and drops UAV to 1-2 on the young season.
 
What Happened? VU 5 UAV 2
The first game of the day, a nine-inning game, saw the Blue and Gold get two runners on in the top of the first, but UAV starter Caleb Ruiz got out of the early pickle.  That sent Spencer Edmondson to the mound for his Vanguard debut, and he picked up a strikeout to start his appearance.  The next batter two batters found a way to get on base, but Edmondson kept them there with two pop-outs.
 
Jarred Mazzaferro picked up his first Vanguard single to lead off the second, and though he got to third, the Pioneers would keep him there.  The teams remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when VU got something brewing, with Nino Vultaggio taking a leadoff walk.  Corey Jarrell stepped up next and he chopped a hard ball to the UAV shortstop, who launched his throw well beyond the reach of the first baseman.  Jarrell ended up at third and Vultaggio scampered home to put the Lions up 1-0.  Michael Downtain singled to score Jarrell as Edmondson would enter the bottom half of the frame ahead 2-0.  He gave up a walk but got a double play and a fly out to retire the side quickly, and the offense thanked him by doubling the lead.
 
Vultaggio started things off again with a two-out walk and he then stole second.  Steven Casas smacked a single to cash in Vultaggio and a double by Jarrell after that put the Lions up 4-0.
 
Quincy Vassar relieved Edmondson on the bump and sent UAV down in order, but the hosts would strike back in the bottom of the seventh.  A double and a single made it 4-1 and another double cut the advantage to 4-2.  But Vassar fanned Sal Munoz to end the threat. 
 
VU gave Vassar an insurance run in the top of the ninth, with Jarrell reaching on an error.  He then swiped second and Downtain mashed a single to bring him in, putting the lead at 5-2.  While the Blue and Gold could not bring in Downtain from second, Vassar would not make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth.  He got the final three outs in a row, fanning the last two batters to pick up the save.
 
VU scored five runs on eight hits, had one error, and left 10 runners on base.  UAV netted two runs on six hits, had two errors, and stranded five runners on base.  Edmondson went five innings and struck out three to get the win, while Vassar struck out four.  Downtain went 2-for-4 and Mazzaferr went 2-for- 5, with Downtain and Jarrell each notching two RBIs.
 
VU 10  UAV 4
Vanguard wasted no time jumping on the board in game two, putting two runs on Josiah Nickel in the top of the first.  Casas lined a single and Jarrell did the same, with both advancing one base on a wild pitch.  With runners at second and third, Downtain put a ball toward the UAV first baseman, but he could not make the play and the ball bounced away.  The two baserunners crossed home to put the Lions up 2-0, and though that was all VU would get in the top of the first, the lead would hold for some time.  THe Blue and Gold gave the ball to Dylan McDonald to start the third game of the series and he had two clean innings to open his season.  As a reward, the Lions increased their lead for him in the top of the third.
 
Casas led off with another single and got to second on a ground out.  With two outs, Downtain again provided the fireworks, as he plopped down a single to score Casas and me it 3-0.
 
But despite the clean start, trouble descended on McDonald in the bottom of the third, though it was not all his fault.  The Lions had three errors in the frame, as the Pioneers swung from down three to ahead 4-3.
 
While the teams were quiet in the fourth, VU got back on the board and then some in the top of the fifth and sixth.  The fifth saw Downtain record a one-out triple to chase Nickel from the contest, and Aaron Zubiate then pinch-ran for Downtain.  Adam Stevens put a ball in play in the infield and the speed of Zubiate allowed him to beat the throw and level the game at 4-4.  Stevens got to second and Mazzaferro walked in short order, and with two outs, the duo pulled off a double steal.  Abe Hernandez took a walk to load the bases and Vultaggio lanced a single to bring in two more runs and put VU ahead for good.
 
Bryce Barnett entered the game in the bottom of the fifth and put UAV with ease and the Lions put the game away in the top of the sixth.  A double for Fred Buckson with one out started the rally and he stole third.  Downtain reached on an error and Stevens loaded the bases by taking a walk.  Mazzaferro singled to make it 7-4 and Famolaro would make it 8-4 on a fielder's choice.  With runners at the corners and two gone, Famolaro stole second and Stevens came home on the play to put VU up 9-4, with Famolaro then scoring on a passed ball a batter later.
 
Barnett got a strikeout to start the bottom of the sixth and in came Kegan Wentz, but he allowed the Pioneers to load up the bases.  Kevin Pence came in and got a ground out to end the threat and Jase Schueller got the final outs in the seventh to give VU the 10-4 win.

The Lions scored 10 runs on 12 hits, had three errors, and left nine on base.  UAV had four runs, three hits, two errors, and five left on base.  McDonald gave up four and struck out three, while Barnett got two Ks and goes to 1-0 on the year.  Casas went 3-for-5 and scored twice while both Buckson, Downtain, and Vultaggio each had two hits.  Downtain paced the lineup with three RBI and Vultaggio was next with two.
 
Downtain had five RBI and four hits on the day, with Casas picking up four base knocks over the two games.
 
Why is it Important?  The Lions are now 6-2 against UAV in the past eight meetings and 10-7 all-time. 
 
What was Said?  "This was a very good response today from the entire team," said Head Coach Rob Pegg.  "We made progress in many areas and need t continually do so."
 
What's Next?  The Lions will start the NAIAball East/West Challenge in Arizona, hosted by ACU.  The Lions will take on #7 Bellevue (Neb.) on Thursday, February 1, at 1:00 p.m. PT.