COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Saint Martin's Baseball team opened the 2026 season with a 7-5 defeat at Vanguard in Costa Mesa, California on Friday, January 30.

The Saints took an early 4-0 lead, before the game eventually flipped toward Vanguard down the stretch in a two-run loss.

Saint Martin's 5, Vanguard 7

• The Saints got off to a hot start out of the gates, as the team went on a major two-out rally.
  • Evan Nicol had the first RBI of the season, scoring Noah Albanese on an RBI-single.
  • Peter Hollabaugh later singled to score Nicol and double the Saints' lead to 2-0.
  • Later in the inning, Kyle Schabot hit a two-RBI single into left field that scored Hollabaugh and Cole Yonamine, giving Saint Martin's a 4-0 lead.
• Nikki Scott II pitched a scoreless first two innings, before the Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the third off a two-RBI single to center field and an RBI-single to right field.
• Later in the bottom of the fifth, Vanguard tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI-double.
• The Saints retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Jackson Upton singled to score Peter Hollabaugh.
• The bottom of the sixth inning decided the game, as the Lions rattled off three RBI-hits to take a 7-5 lead that ultimately held through the final out.

Top Performers

• Peter Hollabaugh went 2-4 and had one RBI and two runs.
• Cole Yonamine went 2-4 with one run.
• Kyle Schabot went 1-4 with two RBIs.
• Nikki Scott II pitched five innings and allowed four runs off six hits, striking out two batters.

Up Next

The Saints will remain in Costa Mesa, facing Vanguard in a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for Jan. 31.