Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team topped Vanguard University, 5-1 and 8-1 (7 innings), on Saturday at VU Baseball Field to complete a four-game sweep of the Lions.

CSUSM (19-2) outscored VU (12-15) 22-4 in the series and improved to 8-0 this year against teams from the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC).

Tyler Bernard, Kody Sepulveda and Kyle Secciani all hit .400 in the series, while Kenny Belzer pitched in with five RBI.

VU hit just .185 in the series, while CSUSM posted an average of .322.

Game One

Steve Messner (3-1) hurled a complete-game four-hitter and the Cougars tagged VU's Travis Tomsen (1-4) for 10 hits in their eventual 5-1 victory.

Sepulveda homered to lead off the second inning before Belzer and Kyle Kuck notched RBI singles to make it 3-0 in the third.

After the Lions got one back in the seventh inning, Belzer laced a single through the left side to bring home Bernard and Mike Guadagnini, putting CSUSM up 5-1 in the top of the ninth.

For Messner, the game served as a nice bounce back from his last start against Sioux Falls, where he was charged with five earned runs in 3.1 innings on the way to his first loss. On Saturday, Messner limited the Lions to one extra-base hit and did not allow a walk.

Marcus Meraz went 2-for-5 and scored twice in his first start in the leadoff spot for CSUSM. Bernard, Belzer, Sepulveda and Dylan Costello also added a pair of hits.

Game Two

The Cougars received a complete game from Kevin Hilton (4-0), adding three runs in the fifth and four in the seventh to tame the Lions, 8-1, in the series finale.

After a slow start, CSUSM strung together three straight two-out hits in the third inning, before a balk with the bases loaded by Richard Perry (1-3) forced in Brandon Bentson to make it 1-0 in favor of CSUSM.

John Schwer recorded a sacrifice fly in the Lions' turn at the plate to make it 1-1.

However, CSUSM answered in the top of the fifth.

After the Cougars put runners on first and third with one out, another balk by Perry brought in John Swilley to make it 2-1.

Bernard followed with a double down the line to knock home Meraz from second.

Kevin Ponzo replaced Perry on the rubber for VU, but it didn't faze Belzer. CSUSM's senior third baseman singled in Bernard to put the Cougars up 4-1.

Belzer added some insurance in the top of the seventh, doubling with the bases loaded before coming all the way around after an overthrow by VU shortstop Bryce Arroyo. Swilley, Meraz, Bernard and Belzer scored on the play to make it 8-1.

Note: Belzer was not credited with an RBI on the play, however, this play is currently being reviewed by the official scorer to determine whether or not Belzer should be attributed with a single (or multiple) RBI on the play.

Bentson went 3-for-4 in the game, while Belzer, Bernard and Montanez each had two hits.

Hilton struck out three and has now earned the victory in each of his last three starts and each of his last four appearances. His ERA stands at 0.82 over 22 innings pitched this season.

CSUSM faces Point Loma Nazarene in a three-game series on March 22 and 23. Friday's single game will be played at PLNU, while Saturday's doubleheader will take place at CSUSM Baseball Field. First pitch is slated for noon at CSUSM.