COSTA MESA – Fred Buckson and Noah Madole deposited game-winning shots into the left field netting during both ends of a PacWest doubleheader on Saturday, leading the Vanguard baseball team to 5-3 and 4-3 victories over Fresno Pacific.

The Lions won the final three games of the series to emerge 11-11 overall and 7-9 in conference play, while the Sunbirds return to the Central Valley 10-13 and 5-11.

VU allowed just 10 runs for the series – the lowest total against any of the four PacWest opponents so far on the schedule.

But the Lions leaned on two of their most productive and clutch hitters to secure the wins, as Buckson broke a 3-3 tie with a solo home run in game one, while Madole crushed a grand slam to complete a comeback from a 3-0 deficit in game two.

Jake Hiner and Chris Paruleski provided quality starts for the VU pitching staff. Hiner allowed three unearned runs over a six-inning stint, while Paruleski became the first Lion to toss a complete game this season. The transfer from Saint Katherine allowed six hits and three runs over seven innings, and he did not walk a batter while striking out a season-best seven.

Center fielder Jaxson Davis went 4-for-7 in the doubleheader, and he has now hit safely in nine of the last 10 games. He had two hits in each game. Madole was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. 

Buckson, Tristan Gallegos and Levi Hall posted two-hit games, and Colton Perez earned his first extra base hit as a Lion – a double in game two.

VU's 13-hit attack in game two tied for second-most in a game this season.

The Lions opened up a 14-game homestand against Fresno Pacific, resurrecting competition for the first time since 2012.

What Happened?

Vanguard 4, Fresno Pacific 3

Both teams dented the scoreboard early, matching run-for-run through the first three innings.

Fresno Pacific took advantage of a VU error in the second as Gabe Henderson ended up on second after a wayward throw. TJ Smith's single to center scored Henderson, but an alert Lion defense nailed Smith between first and second on an 8-1-4 putout to end the inning.

The Lions yanked the run back in the bottom half as Madole and Hall notched back-to-back singles. Colton Perez laid down a solid sac bunt attempt, and the Sunbirds had the out at first but the second baseman dropped the ball. 

With the bags full, Christopher Famolaro lifted a sac fly to center to score Madole for the 1-1 tie.

The Sunbirds grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third. Hiner gave up a pair of walks and a single, but appeared to be out of the inning on a grounder to third. But a misplay on the ball allowed two unearned runs to score. Hiner got Henderson to fly out to avoid any further damage.

VU struck back in its half of the third to tie the score again. Schleichardt tripled with one out and Gallegos brought him home with an RBI single up the middle. After Gallegos advanced to second on a ground out, Hall collected an RBI single to knot the score at 3-3.

Buckson led off the fifth with a towering shot to left for his second home run of the season.

Hiner retired eight of nine hitters entering the sixth, when the Sunbirds loaded the bases with one out. following a walk to Henderson and back-to-back singles from Roman Rosales and Smith. But the southpaw got the next two FPU hitters to fly out.

Mitch Hunter dazzled with two innings of scoreless and hitless relief, retiring six of seven Sunbirds.

Maxwell Montplaisir took the mound in the ninth and struck out the side for his second save.

FPU starter Connor Semone took the loss, surrendering 13 hits and four runs over seven innings. He fell to 2-2. Hiner earned the win to improve to 2-1.

Vanguard 5, Fresno Pacific 3

The Sunbirds took an early lead for the second straight game, getting a pair of runs off Paruleski in the first.

FPU got the first two runners aboard on a single and hit by pitch. Smith sacrificed both runners up 90 feet, and Rosales drove in Wilson with a groundout. Chris Clement came around on a wild pitch.

Paruleski set down seven of the next eight hitters before the Sunbirds went up 3-0 in the fourth. With two outs, Henderson singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ethan Tsui's base hit to right.

Dalton Alford hogtied the Lion offense for five innings. He allowed just a hit and a walk through the first three frames. Buckson belted him for a leadoff double in the fourth, but later got caught in a rundown between third and home for the third out of the inning.

Alford also struck out a pair of Lions in the fifth.

But the VU bats came alive in the sixth as Angel Perez scorched a leadoff triple to right center. Davis followed with an RBI knock to put the Blue and Gold on the board.

Schleichardt doubled deep to center to move Davis to third. The Sunbirds brought in Andrew Barger with one out and he walked Gallegos to load the bases. FPU called on Austin Watson for the second time in the series after he earned the save in Friday's game one 1-0 victory.

Watson was not nearly as effective this time around, as Madole greeted him with a moonshot over the left field wall. The grand slam gave the Lions a 5-3 lead.

Paruleski returned for the complete game opportunity in the seventh and struck out the first two hitters. The next two Sunbirds reached on singles, but after a mound visit by assistant coach Nate Green, Paruleski buckled down and fanned Clement to end the game.

Paruleski improved to 2-2 on the year, while Barger took the loss to fall to 0-1.

What's Next?: Vanguard hosts Hawaii Hilo on Friday, March 14 for a doubleheader, which begins at 11:00 a.m.