COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball was back in action Friday as the Lions hosted the Golden Eagles of La Sierra. In two different types of games, VU pulled off victories, taking game one 4-0 and game two 9-7. Vanguard improves to 13-3 overall and the Eagles drop to 1-3.
G1: The Lions had their ace in the circle for game one, as Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) got the game going in the top of the first with three outs, giving up only a single. The Lions then quickly rallied and loaded the bases. Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) started the bottom half of the inning with a single and Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) followed that up with another base knock. Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) then took a walk, bringing up Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA). The catcher for the Lions hit a ball to the shortstop but the fielder let it roll up her arm and into center field. With two runs coming home, the center fielder hurled it to third to try to gun down Morales but overshot the target, allowing Morales to score and Williams to reach third standing up. Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) then singled to score Williams, as the Lions would take a 4-0 lead into the second.
Brianna Williams gave up a two-out double but then got a ground out to keep LSU off the board in the top of the next inning. The two errors would cost the Golden Eagles dearly, as starter Shelbie Debenedetti found a groove and did not give up another run. While she did give up one hit per inning, the Lions only had a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth. Adrianna Natividad (FR/Norwalk, CA) got a single, advanced on a sac-bunt, and got to third on a past ball, but would be stranded there.
On the other side, Brianna Williams kept dealing. Despite a couple of runners reaching scoring position, the VU starter closed the door each time. Giving up a single and a walk in the top of the sixth, Williams battled back to get a strikeout to keep La Sierra off the board. She then sent the Golden Eagles down in order in the top of the seventh to pick up the win.
The Lions scored four runs on eight hits, had one error, and left six on base. LSU had no runs on five hits, two errors, and seven left on base. Brianna Williams goes to 9-1 on the year in the complete-game victory, picking up five strikeouts along the way and surrendering just one walk. Debenedetti had three strikeouts in the loss, moving her to 0-1 on the year. Farley had two hits to lead the way for the Lions, with Klopfenstein getting the only RBI on the day.
G2: The second part of the doubleheader was certainly quite the opposite, with the teams coming out swinging. Mia Portillo (SO/Buena Park, CA) got the nod to start the game and gave up a leadoff walk. The runner then stole both second and third and a double put La Sierra up 1-0.
But the Lions were ready to help out from the plate. A leadoff double from Farley put VU in a great spot and she would get to third on a wild pitch. Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) took a walk, stole second, and watched as Chaves took a walk to load up the bases. But LSU turned a quick double play, as Morales lined a heater right to the shortstop, who threw to first to catch Chaves a step off the base. But Kaylie Williams would single to center to score both Mayfield and Farley to push the Blue and Gold ahead 2-1.
The Golden Eagles got their own leadoff double to start the top of the second, but Portillo got a strikeout and a ground out to help her cause. But a single by the next batter tied the game and Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) came in to pitch. She got the first batter she faced to hit into a groundout and the game went to the home half of the second tied 2-2.
Again the bats got Vanguard out of trouble. A single by Carli Row (SO/Riverside, CA) and Sophia Kashou (FR/Anaheim, CA) put two runners on with one out. Amarah Farley then reached on a fielder's choice, as LSU decided to get Kashou out going to second. But as soon as they did, the shortstop threw over to third to try to get Row on her turn but airmailed the throw, allowing Row to trot home easily and Farley to reach second. Amarah Farley would steal third and Mayfield would take a walk. Chaves then delivered the goods on a single up the third-base line, scoring Amarah Farley. Even though that was all the runs VU would get, the Lions took a 4-2 lead into the third.
Neither side would score in the third or fourth, as both pitchers settled things down. The Golden Eagles then got a run back in the top off the fifth, as a single, a stolen base, and another single made it 4-3. However, VU was about to explode in the bottom half of the frame.
A single by Chaves got things going and Morales tripled to right-center field to bring home the first run. Kaylie Williams then followed that up with a single to make it 6-3. An error put Klopfenstein on first and Natividad singled to score one more. Row dropped down a grounder but the throw by the infielder could not beat Klopfenstein to the plate, making it 8-3. Aeri Corral (FR/Corona, CA) then picked up a sac-fly to increase the lead to 9-3, as the Blue and Gold scored five runs on four hits.
La Sierra was not ready to concede though, as the Golden Eagles got two runs themselves in the top of the sixth. A single scored the first and with the bases loaded, the next hitter blasted a double to right. As the second runner was coming home, the batter crossed second and headed to third. Amarah Farley made the throw to Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA), who got it to Klopfenstein at third in time to record the second out. LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) then entered the game to pitch and got the third out of the frame.
The Golden Eagles got a runner on the base paths in the top of the seventh but Miranda got two more outs to pick up the first save of the season for the Lions and the 9-7 win for the team.
The Lions had nine runs on 13 hits, three errors, and six left on base. LSU had seven runs on 10 hits, two errors, and six runners stranded. Anniyah Farley goes to 1-0 on the year, getting the win after going four innings, allowing five earned runs, and getting one strikeout. Kaylie Williams had three hits to lead the lineup and three RBI, with Amarah, Chaves, and Morales each getting two hits.
What was said? "It was really nice to see our offense get going today because our pitchers have been carrying us lately," said Head Coach Amber Freeman. "The girls played with passion and energy and competed for all 14 innings. We are looking forward to the challenge against Southern Oregon tomorrow."
What's Next? Another noon doubleheader tomorrow against the #5 Raiders of Southern Oregon.
