ROCKLIN, Calif -- Getting Golden State Athletic Conference play underway, the Vanguard softball team took on William Jessup for a pair of games Friday. The Lions would claim game one 3-1 but could not overcome the late surge by the Warriors in game two, dropping the second contest 5-4. VU goes to 22-6 overall and will start league play at 1-1, as WJU goes to 11-9 overall and also will start 1-1 in GSAC play.
G1: The Blue and Gold got the offense going in the top of the first, as Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) delivered a one-out double to right-center field to get into scoring position. Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) then doubled to deep center to bring in Mayfield and post the first run of the game.
That could have been enough run support for Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ), as the VU ace got the start to begin the series. The Warriors got a single to start the bottom of the first and the runner would get to third off of a steal and then a wild pitch, but she would remain there, as a fly-out ended the inning.
VU got back to work in the top of the second, as Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) reached on a bobble by the shortstop. A sac-bunt moved Chaves to second and Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) snapped a single to center to bring her home and increase the lead to 2-0. Williams then put on a clinic, as she gave up only one hit from the bottom of the second through the bottom of the fourth, as she sent the Warriors away efficiently.
The Lions put another run on the board in the top of the fourth, as Chaves produced a one-out single. It was then a repeat of the second inning, with Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) again bunting Chaves to second and Noble smoking a ball to the left-field corner to bring Chaves home on the double. Up 3-0 and with Williams cruising, VU looked to be in a good position to win.
Yet the Warriors had something to say about that, loading the bases in the home half of the fifth. But Williams had two outs and she got the next hitter to tap a little popup that she caught herself to end the danger. WJU then got a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth to end the shutout bid. A single followed but Williams preceded to stifle the Warriors by getting a double-play and a fly-out to end the sixth. She then gave up a single in the bottom of the seventh with one out but recorded back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the game and give VU a 3-1 win.
Vanguard scored three runs on eight hits without any errors, leaving six on base. WJU had one run on eight hits but had two errors and four runners left on base. Williams goes to 15-2 on the year, as she struck out five and walked one over her seven innings. Katie Blankenheim went the distance for the Warriors, getting only one strikeout and falling to 5-4 on the season.
G 2: Maikyla Nelson had a better start for William Jessup in game two, hitting Colenzo in the shoulder but otherwise sending the Loins back to the dugout. Reigning GSAC Pitcher of the Week LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) got the start for Vanguard and quickly set the Warriors down in order as well in the first.
The Lions soon picked up some runs for the starter, as Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) doubled down the left-field line to start the second. Klopfenstein shot a single up the middle to move Williams to third and Aeri Corral (FR/Corona, CA) singled to left to bring Williams in to score the first run of the game.
Miranda then got into some trouble in the bottom of the third, as a one-out single got a little rally brewing for the Warriors. The runner then stole second and the next WJU hitter bounced a ball to the left side. The throw went to third and a call went in favor of William Jessup, putting runners at the corners. An error by Mayfield loaded the bases and a sac-fly tied the game at 1-1. Miranda then rallied and got the third out to leave the frame.
Both sides collected three runs in the fifth, as VU started with Corral reaching on an error. A double-play put the Lions back a step but Mayfield and Colenzo each singled to center. Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) then got a base knock to load the bases and Kaylie Williams singled to pick up two RBI as Colenzo and Mayfield scored. Chaves then sent a chopper to the short stop that was bobbled, allowing Morales to come across the plate and make it 4-1 VU.
In the bottom half, Miranda saw the leadoff hitter for WJU double to left, with a single after that putting runners at the corners. Another single cashed in one and the two runners still on advanced a base on a wild pitch. The next hitter dribbled one to Mayfield, who only had one play and got the out at third, even though a run scored. Another double tied the game at four-all and spelled the end of the outing for Miranda, as Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) replaced her. The new VU hurler got a ground out to end the inning but the Warriors had scored three runs on four hits to make it a new ball game.
With both sides unable to score in the sixth, the game remained in the balance moving into the final inning. Colenzo got a base hit to start the top of the seventh, giving VU some hope. Morales got aboard on a grounder, as WJU elected to try to throw out Colenzo on the play but the throw was not in time Colenzo advanced to third on a fielder's choice but the next two hitters could not drive her in. The Warriors quickly took advantage, getting a leadoff triple in the bottom of the seventh. An infield single and a walk loaded the bases but Farley got the next hitter to pop up to second. However, the next batter hit a grounder and the throw home was not in time, as William Jessup grabbed game two 5-4.
Vanguard had four runs on 11 hits, left eight runners on base, and committed one error. WJU scored five runs on seven hits, leaving five aboard, and committing three errors. Farley falls to 1-2 on the year, as she struck out two and gave up the final run in an inning and two-thirds. Miranda went four and two-thirds, allowing four runs on five hits. Kaylie Williams led the squad with two RBI in game two, while Colenzo and Mayfield equaled her with two hits.
What's Next? The team will try to take two wins against the Oaks of Menlo College tomorrow in Atherton, CA, starting at noon.
