REDDING, Calif. -- Vanguard softball started their tri-match against Simpson and Oregon Tech Friday in Northern California and while the Lions did drop their first game of the year to Simpson 6-4, VU returned with a clutch performance to defeat the #1 ranked Owls 3-2. Vanguard goes to 9-1 overall.
G 1: The hosting Red Hawks were first up for the Lions and as the designated visitors for the opening contest, VU went to the plate to start the game. Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) got a hit to get the day going and she advanced to second on a ground out by Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA). Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) kept up her solid form from the plate as she drove a double off the fence to score Mayfield and get Vanguard ahead 1-0.
Mia Portillo (SO/Buena Park, CA) got the call to start game one but she had some struggles in the bottom of the first. A walk and a double put runners at second and third and a single by the next batter scored both. Down 2-1, Portillo got a strikeout and a ground out to keep the gap to just one. The offense then helped out the starter, as Aeri Corral (FR/Corona, CA) got hit by a pitch and Mayfield produced another single. Chaves followed that up with a base knock that brought Corral home to tie the game at 2-2.
But Simpson scored again in the bottom of the second, as Portillo gave up a double and the next hitter brought the runner home on a single. Another walk was enough for Portillo to be recalled and LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) was sent to replace her. She got the next hitter to pop up, as Simpson took a 3-2 lead into the third.
Both sides were relatively quiet in the third and the fourth but the Red Hawks would strike next. Simpson got a leadoff walk and after the next batter hit a flyout, Akela Holder blasted a two-run homer to push the SU advantage to 5-2.
Vanguard did respond in the top of the sixth, as Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) took a leadoff walk. Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) followed that up with a single and both runners advanced on a flyout. Chaves then singled to drive in Noble and Farley batted Klopfenstein home off a single. But that was all the offense VU would get. Simpson got one more run in the bottom of the sixth and despite a leadoff single from Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA), the Lions went down quietly in the seventh to fall 6-4.
Vanguard had four runs on 12 hits, one error, and 10 runners left on base. Simpson scored six runs on eight hits and had six runners left on board. Portillo had threes wild on the day, giving up three hits, runs, walks, and netting three strikeouts in four and a third inning of work, taking the loss. Miranda gave up five hits and three runs in one and two-thirds innings of action. Sunshine Wehunt went all seven to get the win for Simpson. Farley had three hits and two RBI to lead the way for the Blue and Gold, with Chaves next with two hits and one RBI. Mayfield had two hits as well.
G 2: Taking the first loss of the year, it would have been easy to understand if Vanguard could not muster the strength to take down #1 Oregon Tech. But the team lit their own fire and gave the defending National Champions a run for the money.
Farley had a two-out double in the first but a quick out ended the chance. That brought Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) to the circle, as the Lions' ace got to work. VU had an error in the frame but Williams got a strikeout to send the game to the second inning scoreless.
The Blue and Gold got a leadoff double from Morales to put the team in a prime position to score first. A sac-bunt got her to third and Klopfenstein lifted a ball high enough into right field to let Morales score on the catch, giving VU a 1-0 lead.
Williams had an efficient bottom half, which started a streak of three innings of little offensive action for the two teams, as both pitchers and defenses locked in. However, it would be the Owls who got the next score. A two-run, three-hit inning put OIT ahead 2-1. But it could have been worse. A key part of limiting the damage was a perfect throw from Farley in right to Klopfenstein at third to get a crucial second out, which allowed Williams to get out of the jam with a ground out with the next hitter.
It was do-or-die time for VU in the top of the seventh and the squad completely forgot the earlier loss and dug in. Klopfenstein got hit by a pitch with one out and Makenzie Miller (SR/Chino Hills, CA) pinch-ran for her. Corral got Miller over to second on a ground out, bringing up Mayfield. The senior waited for her pitch and laced one into the outfield to drive in Miller and knot the game up at 2-2.
Williams got two ground-outs and one strikeout to end any walk-off conversation in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. The Lions could do nothing in the eighth and the Owls produced an immediate scare in the bottom half. A lead-off double put immense pressure on Williams, who threw a ball to the fence to allow the runner to scamper to third. She then walked the hitter at the plate and the team met at the circle to calm things down. The payoff was perfect for the Blue and Gold, as Williams got the next hitter to pop up to Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) behind the plate. The hitter after that hit into a double-play that ended the danger.
Both teams went up and down in order in the ninth, bringing the international tie-breaker into effect. Corral got placed at second to start the 10th for VU and Mayfield pushed her to third with a perfectly placed sac-bunt. Chaves then hit a dribbler that sent Corral dashing for home. The throw came in but was late and Vanguard grabbed a 3-2 lead. Brianna then delivered the win from the circle, as a sac-bunt, a ground out, and a fly out to right handed the win to the Lions.
VU had three runs on three hits, one error, and eight runners stuck on base. The Owls had two runs on eight hits, one error, and nine left on base. Williams went all ten, with both runs being earned, three walks, and five Ks, improving to 7-0 in the process. Sarah Abramson went the distance for Oregon Tech, with two earned runs, four walks, and nine strikeouts. Mayfield, Farley, and Morales were the only Lions to get hits.
Why is it Important? Of the current records kept, this is the third time the Lions have defeated a #1 seed, although the ranking history only goes back to the 2010s. VU defeated #1 Concordia Irvine twice in 2014 and lost to Southern Oregon in 2020, with both being #1 at the time. It is also the first win against OIT in the small four-game history between the two programs.
What was Said? "I am very happy with the way my team continues to fight back and compete in close games," said Head Coach Amber Freeman. "We lost a tough one to Simpson this morning but we were able to bounce back in game two against Oregon Tech and get a big win against the number one ranked team in the nation. I really feel like the sky is the limit for this team and we are just scratching the surface."
What's Next? The team will do it all over again tomorrow, facing Simpson at 9:00 a.m. and OIT at 11:00 a.m.
