COSTA MESA, Calif. – Hosting Benedictine University – Mesa (0-2) for the final non-conference series of the year, the eighth ranked Vanguard Lions (8-4) handled business defeating the Red Hawks 8-0 in six innings and 10-0 in only five innings.
What Happened? The Blue and Gold wasted no time scoring, as they recorded a pair in the bottom of the first inning. Belle Herrera (SR/Riverside, CA) singled and scored Johanna Lewis (SR/Madera, CA) before being brought home herself on an error by BENU. Vanguard took advantage of another error by the Red Hawks to take a 3-0 lead after two innings. A double by Hannah Corrado (SO/Cypress, CA) and a sacrifice fly from Lewis brought it to a 6-0 margin after five innings. The Pride earned the run-rule victory on a pair of RBI walks in the bottom of the sixth. Lewis was 2-2 on the game, Corrado 1-2 with two RBI, and Herrera was 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
With the offense flowing, the four runs during their first at-bat and getting all the way through the order. Angelina Lopez (JR/Riverside, CA) scored off a Bianca Morales (FR/Spring Valley, CA) single and Ashley Klopfenstein (SO/Indio, CA) was brought home on a double from Taylor Radtke (SR/Tucson, AZ). The other runs came off a wild pitch from BENU and a single from Corrado. A lead-off triple from Lewis and a double by Morales generated another pair of runs to take a 6-0 advantage. With their eyes on a second straight run rule victory, Vanguard scored the final runs necessary in the bottom of the third inning. Lewis doubled up the middle which scored Kylie Chen (SO/Pittsburg, CA) from second and then Corrado scored on Lopez's single. The final tallies came on a fielding error by the RedHawks. Lewis was 2-4, Lopez was 2-2, and Morales was 3-3 in game two.
Why It's Important? The Blue and Gold is now 9-1 all-time against BENU, not allowing a run in the last four contests. They have outscored the Red Hawks 42-0 during that span and are 65-11 since 2016. After completing non-conference games, the Pride will now turn their attention to four-game GSAC series against Hope International, William Jessup, and San Diego Christian. They will play eight total games against each opponent, half on the road and the other half at home.
Notable Performers: Vanessa Dwyer (SR/Temple City, CA) (6-2) wins her fifth straight game of the year as she struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits. Emmy Anderson (SO/Fort Collins, CO) (2-1) pitched a no-hitter allowing only two bases runners via walk while also striking out four.
What They Said? Bianca Morales – "I felt like we just really needed this and we all came out and just were really swinging the bat hard and that's just what we really needed and worked on at practice the whole week. My personal approach I had a plan and I executed it very well and i wanted to work the right side and that's what I did."
What's Next? Friday, March 12th at San Diego Christian at 12:00 p.m. for the start of a four-game GSAC series
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