Box Score COSTA MESA, Calif. – Starter Kyle Montiel shut down No. 14 Vanguard over a career-high eight innings of work, as the Cal State San Marcos baseball team nabbed its seventh consecutive win, 7-3, on Wednesday afternoon at VU Field.

Montiel (6-1) allowed nine hits, but limited the Lions to just three runs, two earned, while striking out four. The junior left-hander has won each of his last three starts. Over his last six appearances, Montiel has allowed just three earned runs.

CSUSM improves to 22-14 overall while VU drops to 26-14. It is the first victory of the season for the Cougars over the Lions, who swept CSUSM in a three-game series on opening weekend.

Denny Vigo led off the second inning with his first homerun of the season and Brandon Bentson delivered a two-run double that handed the Cougars a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Back-to-back doubles to lead off the fourth by Noah Buchanan and Tyler Bernard made it 5-0.

VU got on the board in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, Vigo led off with a double and was brought home on Kory Smith's single up the middle to make it 6-1.

The Lions scored a run in the fifth and pulled within 6-3 in the sixth on a throwing error by CSUSM catcher Rich Montanez. With a runner on third and one down, Montiel was able to draw a groundout and a pop-out to escape the jam without further damage done.

He'd work the seventh and eighth without allowing a runner past first base.

Dylan Costello provided some insurance in the top of the ninth, singling home Matt Arlington with two outs to put CSUSM up four.

Justin Hertzmann allowed a hit in the ninth inning, but got Thomas Mobley to pop out to end the game.

Bernard notched two doubles as a part of a 2-for-5 afternoon. Terrence Buchanan, Vigo and Smith also went 2-for-5. Costello was 2-for-4.

The Cougars look to extend their winning streak in this weekend's four-game series against La Sierra on Friday and Sunday at CSUSM Baseball Field.