Lucas Garcia recorded the first win of the season for East Union, and he also made a game-ending catch in foul territory in front of visiting Lodi’s dugout on Wednesday.

The Lancers’ junior shortstop entered during the sixth in relief for starter Matt McGehee and gave up two seventh-inning runs before catching a foul popup that sealed a 9-8 victory.

“He made a nice play,” East Union head coach Dan Trigilia said of the final out.

Garcia also went 2 for 3 from the dish with an RBI and a score during the Lancers’ three-run bottom of the second inning.

Senior Jake Danhoff led off with a base on balls followed by a Garcia single. East Union (1-6) loaded the bases thanks to one of Lodi’s four errors. Brandon Ridgewell, Kyle Austin and Gabe Chavez tallied RBIs to provide the Lancers a 3-0 advantage.

East Union led by that same three-run margin heading into the final inning, 9-6.

“We got three runs relatively early, but (Lodi) battled back,” Trigilia said. “We kind of made it interesting in the seventh.”

East Union tallied two in the third, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Lancers made their only error against Lodi (4-4) to lead off the final frame.

McGehee went 5 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on 11 hits for EU. He also tossed two strikeouts and walked three batters.

“Even though (McGehee’s) numbers weren’t great, he competed every single pitch,” Trigilia concluded. “Four games this year we’ve needed him to go deep into games, and he has.”

East Union sophomore Marco Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with a triple and scored twice.

The Lancers will host Millennium today at 3:30 p.m., followed by a road game to close the preseason Friday at Ceres.

EU, which scored six of its nine runs on Lodi errors or passed balls, will open Valley Oak League play at home against Oakdale next Tuesday.

Rio Americano 3, Manteca 1

Buddy Reeder had the Buffaloes’ only RBI and fellow senior Joe Menzel (1 for 2) tallied the ball club’s only hit against the Raiders (3-3). Manteca (7-2) led off the game with a run in the top of the first and left nine runners on base total. Rio Americano pieced together a three-run bottom of the third that made up the eventual final score against the Buffaloes, who will open VOL on the road against Weston Ranch next Tuesday.