COSTA MESA, Calif. -- It did not start well for the Park University Gilbert baseball team (8-5) and they were unable to stem the tide as Vanguard University (8-2) scored seven runs in the first two innings and never looked back as they won 10-3 behind 15 hits.  

"You can't put yourself behind the eight-ball like that," said Buccaneers head coach Kelly Stinnett. "We have to come out stronger and minimize the runs in those situations.  We will learn from it and come back tomorrow and try and get two."

The Lions jumped on Bucs starter Luke Richards right away getting four runs on five hits in the first to knock the lefthander out of the contest after one inning.  Frank Racioppo entered in relief in the second and was greeted rudely by the Vanguard bats as he surrendered three more runs to put the Buccaneers in a 7-0 hole. 

Freshman Matthew Medina made his debut this afternoon and put his finger in the dam, holding the Lions scoreless over three innings of work. But the Bucs could not get anything going against Vanguard starter Garrett Molnar who went five innings, only allowing two hits and striking out eight Bucs.

The Lions tacked on three more runs in the sixth on back-to-back-to-back home runs off of Buccaneers reliver Brandon Silva making his season debut as well.  

The Bucs finally got on the board in the eighth as Park Gilbert scratched three runs across to thwart the shutout bid..

These two teams will meet again tomorrow in a twin-bill.  Aaron de Groot will start the first game, attempting to get his third win in a row. de Groot has 17 combined strikeouts in his last two outings   The first game starts at 11 a.m. PST.