LEWISTON, Idaho – (Box Score) Strong pitching performances by both starters headlined game one of the 2015 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series, as No. 10 Vanguard (Calif.) downed No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 3-1, Friday morning at Harris Field.

With the win, Vanguard (39-20) advances to play No. 2 Faulkner (Ala.) (48-13) Saturday at 3 p.m. PDT. Lindsey Wilson falls into the elimination bracket and awaits the loser of No. 3 Tabor (Kan.) and No. 6 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Vanguard starter Sean Isaac pitched a gem, striking out six en route to his second complete game of the season – fourth complete game for the team this season. The junior right-hander scattered four hits and allowed one run on 110 pitches. Isaac, who was 1-3 in his last four starts entering today, improves to 10-5 on the year.

Offensively, shortstop Jose Rojas was 3-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Lions. He has now recorded two-or-more hits in five-straight games. Brock Eissman, who ended the game 2-for-5 at the plate, was the only other Vanguard batter with more than one hit.

Vanguard threatened in the top of the second, when Rojas opened the inning with his team-leading 16th double of the season into the right-center field gap – the first hit at the 2015 World Series. A hit-by-pitch put two runners on with one out, however the Lions failed to plate a run, as Erker induced a ground ball to second before striking out Dylan Ramie looking.

Blue Raider No. 9 hitter Dustin Woody made program history with the squad’s first-ever World Series hit in the bottom of the third inning. The junior catcher shot a single up the middle with one out. The potential rally was short lived, as leadoff hitter Brandon Munoz ground into an inning ending double play two pitches later.

The Lions, who outscored their opponents 30-13 at the Santa Clarita Bracket, scored the first run at the World Series. With David Stone on second, Brett Collins flipped a single into left field, giving Vanguard a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Vanguard had an opportunity to blow the game open in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs on a Rojas base on balls. However, Erker surrendered the next three hitters to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Lions.

Taylor McKnight drilled the first pitch he saw in the top of the eight to deep center field to clear the bases and give Vanguard a 3-0 lead. McKnight’s double – his 11th of the season – scored Eissman and Rojas, who both reached earlier on singles.

Lindsey Wilson cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom half of the frame when Brandon Munoz singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to score Daryl Blaskovich from second. However, the Lions shut the door on the inning one batter later on a ground ball to shortstop.

Starting pitcher Chris Erker (7-6) received the loss for Lindsey Wilson. He allowed three runs (all earned) and nine hits in nine innings of work – his second longest performance of the year.

Four different Blue Raiders combined for the team’s four hits.

Since 2013, the No. 10 seed owns a 7-2 record at the World Series.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting the first 15 games of the 2015 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $20. Visit http://www.naianetwork.com/ for more information.

The Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination event hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). For more information on the 59th annual event, click HERE.