COSTA MESA -- Vanguard baseball finished off its home slate of 2026 games with a brace against Biola on Saturday. On the field, the Lions lost 7-4 and 15-1, dropping to 9-31 overall and 12-34 in Pacific West Conference games, while BU jumped to 25-23, 21-19.
Off the field, VU celebrated a senior class of 11 players, as
Evan Avitia,
Jesus Barreto,
Caden Byers,
Christopher Ceballos,
Jacob Cuculich,
Jaxson Davis,
Chase Easter-Hairston,
Tristan Gallegos,
Dakota Henson,
Jake Hiner, and
Tyler Prystajko all took a final bow inside the Freed Center, as rain pushed the festivities off the Dean Harvey Field.
What Happened? Angel Perez began the bottom of the second by reaching on an error by the BU shortstop, got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Davis, and touched the plate for the first run of the game off a
Brian Paymard single. After an Avitia single and a walk to Easter-Hairston, a single to right field by
Nathan Hellein put the Lions ahead 2-0.
In his final home performance,
Jake Hiner was efficient through four innings, as he gave up only three hits. However, BU put together a string of singles in the second to tie the matchup at 2-2. The Eagles then took the lead for good in the top of the seventh, cashing in four runs, with two balls leaving the yard for the visitors. Hiner ended with one strikeout and a walk in six and a third.
The Blue and Gold found one counter in the bottom of the seventh, with Avitia sneaking a single through the infield to start the frame. Easter-Hairston took a walk, and a single by Gallegos to center brought in one, but the Lions left the bases loaded.
James Derflinger scored the other Vanguard run, as he took a walk to start the ninth, stole second and third, and then raced home on a grounder by
Bennett Vondrak.
Biola totaled seven runs on 15 hits, had one error, and left 13 runners on base, while VU had four runs, seven hits, two errors, and eight left aboard. Hiner dropped to 2-9 on the season, and
Dylan Henson,
Jesus Barreto, and
Dakota Henson went the rest of the distance for VU. Hellein, Gallegos, and Avitia all had two hits, with Easter-Hairston drawing a pair of walks.
Game 2
Ceballos got the nod to start the final game of the series, but neither he nor
Trevor Steele,
Seth Wrightstone, nor
Mitch Hunter could keep Biola off the board, as each was tagged for at least two earned runs. The Eagles had two home runs in the game and led 4-0 after the third frame. A six on the board for BU in the sixth punctuated the win, as the Eagles won 15-1.
Biola had 17 hits in the game, while Vanguard had five. Easter-Hairston led off the sixth with a walk and eventually scored the only VU run on a grounder by Avitia. Avitia led the team with a pair of knocks, while Easter-Hairston drew another pair of walks.
Jonathan Gurrola made his second appearance of the season to end the top of the seventh recorded his first punchout. Ceballos dropped to 1-4 and had five Ks.
What's Next? The Blue and Gold head to Fresno Pacific for four games next Friday and Saturday.
