AZUSA, Calif. – Vanguard University (3-3), ranked eighth in the NAIA, continues its stretch of playing NCAA Division II opponents, this time facing off against Azusa Pacific University (1-1). The teams split the double header as the Cougars won 3-1 before the Lions evened things up with a 6-3 victory.
What Happened? The Blue and Gold opened up scoring in the contest, taking a 1-0 lead off a RBI double from Hannah Corrado (SO/Cypress, CA) which scored Ashley Klopfeinstein. APU would tie it in the bottom of the third inning and eventually take a 3-1 lead after four full innings. Through five innings of play, the Pride had stranded runners in each inning including two each in the top of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The loss moves the Lions ace Vanessa Dwyer (SR/Temple City, CA) to a 2-2 record on the young season.
The script was flipped in the second game as it was the Cougars who drew first blood and then Vanguard who tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. With runners on the corners and one out punched, Bianca Morales (FR/Spring Valley, CA) singled which scored Belle Herrera (SR/Riverside, CA). Seemingly like a repeat of the previous game, the Pride soon found themselves trailing once again by a 3-1 score. However, this time the bats answered the call and Vanguard blew open the game with five runs scored in the frame. It started with an RBI walk drawn by Morales, moved to a sacrifice fly by Corrado, a two RBI triple by Ariana Huffman and ended with a two out single to centerfield by Lewis which ended the scoring for the evening.
Why It's Important? The split today ends a five-game skid against local NCAA DII opponents, although two of them – against CUI – were marked down as exhibition games. They also stay even on their season record at 3-3 while playing the Cougras for the first time since 2018 when vanguard swept APU. Despite the recent success, however, Azusa Pacific holds a 69-59 margin in all-time wins.
Notable Performers: In the first game, Johanna Lewis (SR/Madera, CA) and Corrado combined to tally four of the six total hits for the Lions. In game two, Klopfeinstein went an impressive 3-4 in the box while Morales was 2-3 with a scored run and a pair of RBI; Herrera scored two of the Pride's six runs in the nightcap. Emmy Anderson picked up her first win of the season with a seven-inning complete game allowing nine hits but only two earned runs.
What They Said: Johanna Lewis - "We did a lot better the second game compared to the first. The second game we picked it up with our energy and came out on fire. We put the ball in play more and rallied in the 6th inning. We played together as a team and I think that really showed tonight in our win against Azusa."
What's Next? Tomorrow, Saturday, February 27th against the University of Saint Katherine at 12:00 p.m.
#ClawsUp
