LANCASTER Calif. -- Vanguard softball made a quick road trip Friday for a doubleheader against the University of Antelope Valley. The Lions beat the Pioneers at home twice and did so again in the road fixture, as VU pounded away to win 17-5 and 14-2, with each game going five innings each. VU improves to 17-5 overall while the Pioneers fall to 2-13.
What Happened? G1 The first contest would feature runs aplenty for the Blue and Gold, with the team putting up four in the top of the first. A triple for Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) set the tone and a single from Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) brought her home. The next batter was Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) and she blasted a home run to make it 3-0. A double for Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) followed that and with two outs, Aeri Corral (FR/Corona, CA) tagged on a single to bring Williams around and increase the lead to 4-0.
LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) was the starter in the first game for VU and she got three outs in the bottom of the first while with a walk being her only blemish. Vanguard then put up three more in the top of the first, with Sophia Kashou (FR/Anaheim, CA) starting the rally by reaching on an error by the third baseman. She then got to second on another error as she broke for the bag and Mayfield followed that up with a single to bring her home. Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) recorded a single after that, bringing up Colenzo. The starting catcher hit a low, bouncing ball to second and the UAV fielder had trouble with it, allowing Mayfield to score, Chaves to reach third, and Colenzo scampering safely to second. Williams then drove a liner to left to score both VU runners and make it 7-0.
The Pioneers got a run in the bottom of the second, as a pair of singles got the home half of the inning going. A walk loaded the bases and a ground ball scored the runner at third, though the Lions got an out on the play and Miranda struck out the next hitter to end the danger.
Neither side scored in the third and the Lions would go on to hang seven runs on UAV in the top of the fourth. Williams reached on an error and Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) bounced a double off the fence to put the pair on second and third. Julia Ceballos (SO/Oceanside, CA) grounded out to second but pinch-runner Marissa Gurrola (FR/Downey, CA) scored and Klopfenstein got to third. Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) then grounded out to first to score Klopfenstein and despite having two outs, VU poured it on. A pair of walks put two on and Chaves doubled to cash in both runners. Morales then deposited a booming shot over the fence for her second homer of the game to make the score 14-1.
That set up a win due to the mercy rule but back came the Pioneers with three in the home half of the fourth. After a pair of force outs, a single and a double brought three runners home to make it 14-4. Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) was called out to pitch and she got the next batter to strike out to send the game to the fifth.
The Lions started the inning with a single from Klopfenstein and Ceballos delivered another base knock immediately after. A wild pitch allowed each player to advance 60 feet and an error a couple of pitches later by the catcher allowed Klopfenstein to score and Ceballos to reach third. Makenzie Miller (SR/Chino Hills, CA) took a walk and Kashou stroked a single to score Ceballos. Chaves then fit a sac-fly to right to score Miller and put Vanguard way out of reach to the tune of 17-4. Farley gave up one run off of a triple in the bottom of the fifth but the mercy rule still applied to end the game after the third out was recorded.
VU scored 17 runs on 14 hits, had no errors, and left seven on base. UAV scored five runs on five hits, had four errors, and had six runners left on base. Miranda picks up the win to move to 2-3 on the season, going 3.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits, along with striking out four. Morales led the team with five RBI. In addition, Morales, Mayfield, Chaves, Williams, and Klopfenstein each had two hits. Chaves was second on the team with three RBI and Colezno had two. 17 runs is the third-highest run total for a single game for VU and nine doubles for the team is a new program record in a single game.
G2 The second verse was just about the same as the first Friday as the lights came on at UAV. Vanguard continued to see the ball well and once more got ahead in the top of the first. Chaves batted a one-out single and Colenzo swatted a double to bring her in. Morales and Williams each doubled after that and Noble singled home Williams to make it 4-0 after the first half-inning.
It was certainly enough run support for Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ), who kept the Pioneers pretty much off the bases in the first three innings, getting some solid defense behind her.
The Lions put things out of reach in the top of the second as Kashou took a leadoff walk. Mayfield then whacked another double to put the lead to 5-0. Chaves then reached on an error and Colenzo converted another pitch into a double to bring home both of them. The Blue and Gold then scored two more runs off of errors by the Pioneers to produce five runs in the top of second and take a 9-0 advantage in the game.
In the top of the fourth, VU got a leadoff walk from Colenzo and another double from Morales. Kaylie Williams singled to score one and then it was Klopfenstein's turn to double to rack up two RBI. A sac-fly then scored Klopfenstein to run the score up to 13-0.
Antelope Valley finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth off of a sac-fly to but it did not dent the lead. Vanguard was not done scoring as well, as Mayfield batted another double and a single from Ceballos rounded off the VU scoring at 14. A home run in the bottom half hurt the ERA of Brianna Williams but otherwise did not threaten the VU lead, as Williams then set the Pioneers down in order to end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lions scored 14 runs on 13 hits, had no errors again, and left only three runners aboard. UAV scored two runs on four hits, had three errors, and also left three on. Brianna Williams went all five, striking out seven and walking one. Five Lions had two hits and Colenzo paced the lineup with three RBI. Both Kaylie Williams and Klopfenstein were next with two each.
What was Said? "Today we had two great team wins that exemplified our positive energy and intentionality in our approaches," said Mayfield.
What's Next? It will be a quick turnaround for the team, as Vanguard will play host to Goshen College tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at noon.
