Costa Mesa -- Vanguard softball returned home for a doubleheader against Marymount California University on Saturday, after getting two wins on Friday. Two more nail-bitters ensued over the course of the afternoon on the VU softball field, as the Mariners and the Lions battled in defensive pitching duals. But Vanguard emerged with two wins to stay perfect on the season, winning 1-0 and 4-3, as VU goes to 6-0 overall and MCU falls to 0-4.
What Happened?
G1: Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) and Liana Castro were clinical in game one, with each pitcher getting some quality plays out in the field as well. There were no hits until the top of the third when Marymount loaded the basses, but Williams then fanned two batters to end the frame.
The Lions got the only run of the game in the fourth. Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) took a leadoff walk and Kylie Chen (JR/Pittsburg, CA) pinch ran for her. A sacrifice bunt from Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) moved Chen to second and she would score on a rocket to right field off the bat of Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA).
Williams was clean the rest of the way, as Vanguard claimed the 1-0 victory. VU had one run on three hits, one error, and five left on base. MCU had two hits and five left on base. B. Williams went all seven, allowing only two hits, walking one, and striking out six to go to 4-0 on the season. Castro was equally strong, going six, giving up three hits, one run, walking three, and striking out two.
G2: The Lions sent LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) to the circle for game two, with Castro returning for the Mariners for round two. Neither side had anything productive going in the first and second innings but the third had some fireworks. Marymount got their first two runners on but Miranda battled back to get two outs back-to-back. However, Diamond Lewis singled to center to score two and Michaela Kelly drove in Lewis with a single to right to put MCU ahead 3-0.
The Blue and Gold bounced back nicely in the bottom half though, scoring a pair to keep it close. A double by Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) started the frame and Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) singled to drive in Noble and make it 3-1. K. Williams then batted in Chaves off of a single to make it 3-2.
Both sides were quiet in the fourth, with the Lions turning a textbook double play in the top half as the main highlight. In the fifth, Mia Portillo (SO/Buena Park, CA) came in to pitch for VU after Miranda walked the first batter in the inning. Portillo did not let the situation affect her, as #17 got three outs to leave a Mariner standing at third. That was crucial, as Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) led off the bottom of the fifth with a booming triple to right field. Chaves wasted no time driving Mayfield in, as she singled to center on the next pitch to tie the game at 3-all. Chaves advanced to second on a sac-bunt and K. Williams singled to put runners at the corners. Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) then put the Lions ahead with a single that scored Chaves, as VU completed the comeback. Both pitchers then had clean innings the rest of the way, with Portillo striking out the last batter to give VU the 4-3 win, her second relief win in the past 24 hours.
Marymount had three runs on five hits and six runners left on base. Vanguard had four runs on 11 hits, leaving six on base. Castro went all six again, walking one and fanning four, but she falls to 0-3 after dropping both decisions on the day. Miranda went four, giving up five hits, three runs, walking two, and notching two strikeouts. Portillo went the last three without giving up a hit, walking two, and striking out three. Five Lions had two hits, with Chaves leading the way with two RBI.
What was said? "I am very happy with how my team is competing in the tough moments," said Head Coach Amber Freeman. "They are continuing to show me heart and that they are able to be clutch in big moments. I'm excited about the start we are having and can't wait to be challenged this upcoming weekend when we play against the #1 team in the NAIA, Oregon Tech."
What's Next? The team will travel past Los Angeles to take on Cal Lutheran on Tuesday, February 8, with the doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
