COSTA MESA, Calif. – After a change in the schedule opened up a free date, the Vanguard Lions (15-7) welcome Chapman University (0-2) to the field for their first games in 385 days. The Panthers battled hard, but the experience so far this season gave the Pride a leg up, winning 15-0 and 9-2.
What Happened? The Lions wasted little time getting the offense going scoring four runs in their first trip to the plate. Taylor Radtke (SR/Tucson, AZ) had an RBI groundout and then Belle Herrera (SR/Riverside, CA) smashed a ball into the wind and over the left field fence to a three-run shot. The trend continued in the second inning as singles from Alana Rangsuebsin (FR/Whittier, CA), Bianca Morales (FR/Spring Valley, CA), and Mackenzie Hoffman helped user in another trio of runs. After going scoreless in the third inning, the Lions added eight runs in the fourth to blow open the game. They took advantage of a pair of fielding errors by the Panthers and use a double, two walks, and four singles to do the damage.
Vanguard got into the flow of these with a two-out rally in the first, scoring one run on the double from Herrera and two more on a batted ball to left by Corrado. During their next trip to bat, the Pride put four runs on the scoreboard. It all started with an RBI single from Lewis allowed Rangsuebsin to score from second base before the double from Morales brought Lewis home. Hofmann's double allowed her to switch places with Morales. Karly Colenzo (JR/Downey, CA) pinch hit and the fielding error by Chapman kept the inning running and allowed the fourth and final run of the at bat to cross home plate. Three consecutive free bases to the Panthers put Vanguard in a tough position, but the Blue and Gold was able to get the final out without any runs scoring. However, during the next at bat for Chapman they were able to plate one run, taking advantage of a leadoff double. The Lions continued to build the lead on a RBI groundout from Lewis; Chapman countered right back in the top of the sixth. Radtke hit a two-out double to score Morales, but Vanguard could not bring home the final run to reach the run-rule limit.
Why It's Important? The series against the Panthers dates back all the way to 1989, where Chapman won nine of the first 10 contests. These two programs played each other yearly from 1999 to 2013 before the Orange County series went dormant. It was revived last season when the Blue and Gold outscored Chapman 17-3 in a sweep of the double-header. Vanguard is now 29-24 all-time against the Panthers. The 15-run score in Game One was the fourth most in program history and the second most against Chapman - 16 runs on the road back in April 2009.
Top Performers: Herrera, Radtke, and Morales were all 2-3 in the game with two runs scored – with the three Lions combining for seven RBI. In the circle, Vanessa Dwyer (SR/Temple City, CA) (10-3) threw a two-hitter with neither runner making it past first base. In her complete game effort, she struck out three batters and tossed only 54 pitches. In the second game, Corrado and Herrera combined for five hits, three BI, and a score. Mia Portillo (FR/Buena Park, CA) picked up her first win of the season tossing five innings, striking out six, and allowing one earned run.
What They Said: Mackenzie Hofmann (FR/Tujunga, CA) – "I think we were really focused this week and determine to beat Hope and even with the game change, we were still ready to come out, beat any team that we had to, and we were all ready to compete and had fun while doing it."
What's Next: The next scheduled games are April 9th and 10th as they head up north for a four-game series in Rocklin against William Jessup University.
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