Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Phoenix, Ariz. -- The 2024 NAIA Ball East-West Challenge got going for Vanguard baseball today as the Lions faced #15 Ave Maria (Fla.) and #7 Bellevue (Neb.).  The Blue and Gold slugged it out with Ave Maria but fell 13-11 at the end of nine innings despite a good comeback effort.  Against the Bruins later in the day, the Lions were solid on both sides of the field, keeping the Bruins off the board for a 3-0 win and the first shutout of the season.   VU goes to 3-2 on the year, the Gyrenes open their season with a win, and Bellevue drops to 1-2.
 
What Happened? AMU 13 VU 11
Jesus Munguia got the nod for the first game in Arizona and while he held the Gyrenes off the board in the first, AMU would strike for the first run of the game in the second via a double and a single.  A home run for the Gyrenes in the bottom of the third made it 2-0, but the VU offense brought a run back in the top of the fourth.  VU loaded up the bases and a walk by Corey Jarrell made it 2-1, but unfortunately, the Lions would leave the bases juiced.
 
Ave Maria opened up some distance on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth, with a pair of home runs putting the Gyrenes up 5-1.  Munguia would strike out the final two batters of the frame, but his day would be done after that.  But the team did not dispair and the Lion bats finally found some success.  The first step towards a comeback came from a home run by Antonio Omphroy into the left-field corner in the top of the sixth, which brought the gap down to 5-2.
 
While AMU picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth to put their edge at 6-2, the Blue and Gold tied it in the top of the seventh.  Michael Downtain singled, which bumped Fred Buckson to third.  A single through the left side by Oscar Diaz made it 6-3 and an error on the next play allowed Downtain to score, bringing the gap down to 6-4.  Singles by both Adam Stevens and Omphroy knotted the score at 6-6 to reset the game as part of a four-run inning.  
 
However, the Gyrenes rattled off four runs in the bottom of the seventh to forge a 10-6 advantage.  The Vanguard offense continued to fight back, with Steven Casas getting hit by a pitch to start the top of the eighth and Jarrell taking a walk after that.  The two got an extra base off a wild pitch and an error by the AMU shortstop on a chopper by Downtain brought in both runners to half the deficit to 10-8. 
 
Ave Maria again had a rebuttal, scoring three in the bottom half to put the Gyrenes up 13-8.  Omphroy got hit by a pitch to start the top of the ninth and Casas singled to put two runners on base.  Jarrell then doubled to bring in both Lions and he got to third on the throw to the plate.  Jarrell then scampered home on a wild pitch to cut the gap to 13-11, but the Gyrenes got the next two batters out to close out the contest.
 
Vanguard scored 11 runs on 13 hits and had two errors, leaving 10 runners on base.  AMU scored 13 runs on 13 hits, also collected two errors, and left six on base.  Jarrell went 4-for-4 with three RBI and both Downtain and Diaz had two hits, with Omphroy responsible for two RBI.
 
VU 3   BU 0
Jake Hiner took the ball for the start of the second game of the day and he put on a masterful performance over five and one-third, keeping the #7 team in the NAIA without a hit and recording one K.  The offense was similarly stymied by Dustin Schorie of Bellevue, as he kept Vanguard without a hit through five scoreless innings.  But when the Bruins brought in a new pitcher to start the top of the sixth, the Blue and Gold were able to connect for two runs.  Buckson took a walk and got to second on a passed ball, with a Downtain single bringing him home.  Jarred Mazzaferro got hit by a pitch and then stole second, with Omphroy bringing him across with another single to double the lead. 
 
Christopher Famolaro scored the final VU run, as he led off the top of the seventh with a triple.  Tevis Payne brought him in on a sacrifice fly, and that was all the Lions needed.  Bryce Barnett got two strikeouts over two and two-thirds of the game and Jase Schueller got one K and the save to blank the Bruins 3-0.

The Lions scored three runs on five hits, had one error, and left eight runners on base.  Bellevue had only two hits and left seven runners on base.    
 
What was Said?  "We got excellent pitching and defense that set the tone," said Head Coach Rob Pegg.  "Hiner, Barnett, and Schueller were on point  Timely hitting and a great team response after a tough first game."
 
Why is it Important?  Vanguard has not played Bellevue since 1998 but has now won all three meetings against the Bruins.  VU has taken down a top-10 team each of the past three seasons, with this being the highest seed since the wins against then #6 Westmont at the end of the 2022 season.  Today was the first matchup against the Gyrenes all-time. 
 
What's Next?  The Lions remain in Arizona and will play (RV) St. Thomas tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.