COSTA MESA – Exceptional pitching and timely hitting provided the winning formula in Vanguard's doubleheader sweep of Antelope Valley on Wednesday at VU Softball Field.
The Lions won by scores of 2-1 in eight innings and 4-2, moving to 11-3 on the season. The Pioneers fell to 2-8.
Vanguard ended a short-lived two-game losing streak and improved to 6-1 in one-run contests.
Game 1 – Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) took the ball in the circle for game one and did not disappoint. The right-hander threw a complete game, striking out a career-best 12 batters while yielding six hits and one run.
Williams improved to 8-1 on the season and lowered her ERA to 1.07. She has given up just eight earned runs in 52.1 innings pitched.
The Pioneers scratched out their lone run off Williams in the second inning. Jolene Melendez and Kristin Smith laced back-to-back doubles to take the 1-0 lead. Williams escaped further trouble as she got a ground out and strikeout with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Antelope Valley pitcher Mackenzie Potter was in a groove as she retired nine of the first 10 Vanguard hitters she faced. She had allowed just one Lion hit through the first four innings.
But in the fifth, the Lions finally broke through. Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) singled with one out, and pinch hitter Makenzie Miller (SR/Chino Hills, CA)'s single put runners on first and second with two outs. Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) then hit a hard grounder that deflected off the third baseman. The third baseman recovered and threw to first in an attempt to nab Farley, but her throw sailed over the first baseman's head for an error. Morales scored on the play to tie the game at 1-1.
Williams got her first 1-2-3 inning in the Antelope Valley seventh, and Potter countered with the same in the bottom half.
The international tiebreaker rule began the eighth as Lindsey Allie was placed on second for the Pioneers. Williams promptly struck out Hailey Yamaguchi and Smith around a foul out to Melendez.
In the bottom half, Williams started on second base. Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) laid down a perfect sac bunt to advance Williams to third. On the next play, Amarah Farley lifted a short pop up which bounced out of the second baseman's mitt. The error allowed Farley to score as the Lions took the 2-1 win.
Game 2 – The Lions grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) was on first via the hit by pitch. With one out, Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) doubled to right to score Mayfield. Morales followed with a sharp single to center to plate Klopfenstein.
The Pioneers tied the score in the fifth, as pitcher Naomi Martinez laced a 2-RBI single up the middle to score Smith and Madelynn Kennedy. That chased VU starting pitcher Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) from the game. Farley threw a solid 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out five.
LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) entered the game and induced a pop up from Jaylene Partida to end the inning.
Vanguard retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing once again on an Antelope Valley miscue. Mayfield hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice. Klopfenstein reached on a fielder's choice, which moved Mayfield to third.
Morales hit a grounder to the shortstop, who bobbled the ball and allowed Mayfield to touch home plate for the 3-2 Lions lead.
The Lions picked up an insurance run in the sixth. Miller sent a ball into the right field alley that went deep enough to allow Mayfield to score all the way from first. Miller made it to second and attempted to leg one out to third, but got cut down on the relay throw.
Miranda pitched an exceptional 2.1 innings to pick up her first career win. She allowed just two hits. In the seventh, Yamaguichi reached first on a hit by pitch, but Miranda got Partida to line out to second to end the game.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions lost back-to-back games for the first time last week against Simpson and No. 1 Oregon Tech. They rebounded in solid fashion to reach double-digit wins.
What's Next?: Vanguard hosts La Sierra on Friday for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is at noon.
