SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Head coach Rob Pegg secured career win No. 400 at Vanguard as the Blue and Gold split a PacWest baseball doubleheader against seventh-ranked Point Loma on Saturday at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

The Lions lost 10-5 in game one, but rode a solid pitching performance from Chris Paruleski and Maxwell Montplaisir in the nightcap to take game two by a 5-1 score. The win gave Pegg – in his 13th season at the helm – a VU career record of 400-240-2.

Point Loma had scored 41 runs through the first three games of the series, showcasing its stature as a top-10 nationally ranked team. VU pitchers helped the cause by walking 25 Sea Lions and hitting five others.

But Paruleski and Montplaisir – a transfer from Point Loma – shuttered the Sea Lion offense in holding them to one run in game two. The Lions allowed only one walk, while the Sea Lions were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Catcher Angel Perez also nabbed two Sea Lions on steal attempts and Paruleski picked off another runner at first base.

Fred Buckson continued his torrid hitting, finishing the afternoon 5-for-10. He went 9-for-18 over the four games with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and six RBI. Josh Schleichardt hit his second home run of the series and drove in four runs for the doubleheader.

Other offensive contributors included Jaxson Davis, Tristan Gallegos and Colton Perez – all with two-hit performances – and Perez doing so in his first career start with the Blue and Gold.

The Lions are now 8-6 overall and 4-4 in the PacWest. The Sea Lions fell to 10-4 and 6-2 in conference action.

What Happened?

Game 1 – No. 7 Point Loma 10, Vanguard 5

Gallegos hit a leadoff home run to dent the scoreboard in the second, sparking a four-run inning. Three straight singles from Evan Avitia, Levi Hall and Colton Perez loaded the bases. Avitia scored on Christopher Famolaro's double play ground ball to extend the lead to 2-0.

Davis walked and Buckson's infield single reloaded the bags, and Schleichardt stroked a two-RBI base hit to right field to push the VU lead to 4-0.

But the Sea Lions touched VU starter Jake Hiner for five runs in the bottom half. Unfortunately, all five runs were unearned. The southpaw appeared to escape damage with two runners on and two outs, but a VU error extended the inning and allowed Point Loma's first run to score.

Hiner, who had walked the previous two runners, issued two more free passes following the error, including a bases loaded one to Jake Entrekin. A passed ball scored a third Sea Lion run and Luke Reese polished off the inning with a two-RBI single.

Vanguard evened the score at 5-5 in the third on Colton Perez's RBI single, but the Sea Lions retook the lead as Bryson Hashimoto's double drove in Josiah Rodriguez from first base.

Point Loma's leadoff man got on base for the fourth consecutive inning, leading to two more runs and ending Hiner's afternoon with the Lions trailing 8-6.

VU produced seven hits and four runs off Point Loma starter Colin Driscoll, but managed just four hits and one run the rest of the way off two Sea Lion relievers.

Jonathan Kozasky pitched 5.1 innings of three-hit relief, allowing VU's final run in the third. He struck out seven Lions and walked just one. He earned the win and improved to 2-0, while Hiner took the loss to fall to 1-1.

Game 2 – Vanguard 5, No. 7 Point Loma 1

The first pitching duel of the series pitted Paruleski against Brock Mayer.

The two hurlers combined to allow 15 hits, but limited the damage as both teams scored just one run apiece in the extra inning battle.

Paruleski fanned the first two Sea Lions he faced in the first and stranded a runner in each of the first two innings. Aiden Arriaga singled with one out in the third and stole second, but Angel Perez nailed him attempting to steal third for out number two.

It was a key out as Owen May and Entrekin notched consecutive singles. But Paruleski kept Point Loma off the scoreboard as he got Luke Reece to line out to left to end the inning.

Paruleski's one blip occurred in the fourth as Rodriguez homered to give the Sea Lions a 1-0 lead. But he picked off May leading too far off first to post a clean fifth.

The Lions had a runner in scoring position against Mayer in the second and fourth innings, but did not produce any runs. 

VU tied the score in the fifth as Davis led off with a double and advanced to third on a misplay by the Point Loma center fielder. Buckson took advantage with an opposite field single that scored Davis.

The bullpens took over in the sixth with Williams making his second appearance of the afternoon and Montplaisir appearing for the first time in the series.

The Lions threatened Williams from the start as Avitia reached via an error, followed by Famolaro getting hit by a pitch. But Williams retired the next three VU hitters on a ground out and two fly outs.

Paruleski started the sixth on good terms, striking out the first two Sea Lions. However, Rodriguez reached first on VU's only error of the game. Pegg immediately ushered in the former Sea Lion Montplaisir, who induced an inning-ending groundout.

Montplaisir wiggled out of a bases loaded, two-out jam in the seventh, getting Reece to fly out.

Angel Perez threw out a would-be base stealer in Noah Meffert in the eighth, setting the stage for a big Lion ninth.

VU erupted for four runs in the frame. Buckson's double drove in the go-ahead run after Tyler Shigenaka had singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Davis.

Schleichardt then unloaded on Williams, taking him over the fence for a two-run home run and a 4-1 Lion lead. Point Loma replaced Williams with Nathan Ward, but the festivities continued for the Blue and Gold as Noah Madole reached first on a hit by pitch. A wild Ward then proceeded to hit both Gallegos and Famolaro to load the bases.

Vanguard leads the PacWest in hit by pitches with 30 this season.

Michael Sarhatt then took over on the mound in hopes of preventing any further Lion offense, but he walked Angel Perez to force in Madole as VU now led 5-1.

Montplaisir pitched brilliantly, lasting 3.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. He allowed three hits and walked one, improving to 2-0 on the season. Williams took the loss after giving up three runs in 3.1 innings. The game ended on a 4-6-3 double play as the Lions polished off perhaps their most complete game of the season.

What Was Said?: "An extremely memorable win today," said Head Coach Rob Pegg. "The guys battled hard and showed a lot of heart against an excellent team. Blessed to look back and think of all the great people and players who have been a part of this journey. Grateful for them all. Thanks to the Lord."

What's Next?: Vanguard returns to Dean Harvey Field on Thursday, February 27 for an 11:00 a.m. doubleheader against Azusa Pacific.