COSTA MESA -- The Vanguard softball team started its third Golden State Athletic Conference series Friday against the Arizona Christian Firestorm. The teams produced two pitcher duals, with each team claiming one win, as VU won 2-1 and ACU snagged game two 2-0. The Lions go to 24-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play, with ACU going to 18-9 overall and 4-2 in league action.
What Happened? G1: The Lions had Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) in the circle for the first game and the Firestorm had Savannah Smith and both were locked in early. Neither offense could do anything in the first two innings, with the pair racking up a couple of strikeouts along the way. However, the breakthrough came in the top of the third, as ACU got a leadoff single. Reigning GSAC and NAIA player of the week Claire Buckley then mashed a double to right-center field to put the guests ahead 1-0.
Smith was challenged in the bottom of the fourth, as Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) hit a single and Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) took a walk. They would go to second and third but would be left standing there, as a couple of outs kept VU from doing any damage. Williams would shutdown the Arizona Christian bats in the fifth and six, leaving the Lions down one entering in the bottom of the sixth.
The rally started as Marissa Gurrola (FR/Downey, CA) hit a grounder and the first baseman let her foot slip off the bag while making the catch. Two sac-bunts sent Gurrola to third, bringing up Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA). The senior stepped up big under pressure, smacking a single to left-center field to tie the game at 1-1. Sophia Kashou (FR/Anaheim, CA) came in to run for her and Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) shot a single to right-center field. Kashou trucked on over to third but Morales made too big of a turn around first, with ACU throwing behind her in an attempt to get her out. Morales then started for second and it looked like ACU would run her down in the pickle play, but as she went to second, Kashou started inching towards home. Seeing the attempt and holding the ball, Buckley started looking her way to freeze her. Kashou took off anyway and the throw home was late, as Morales slid back into second on the throw, giving VU a 2-1 lead.
Williams gave up a leadoff single in the top of the seventh but sent the Firestorm down in order from there, as Vanguard claimed game one 2-1.
VU had two runs on three hits and left three runners on base, while ACU had one run on four hits, one error, and three left on base. Williams went the distance to go to 17-1 on the year, striking out 11 in the process and not walking a single batter. Smith went six, walking one and striking out three, falling to 11-5 on the season.
G2: LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) got the call to start game two, and Buckley, the leadoff hitter for ACU, tagged Miranda right away. A couple of pitches in and Buckley blew a home run well over the left-field fence to put ACU up 1-0. Miranda got out of the inning from there, but the damage would be enough. The Blue and Gold would be frustrated at the plate by Allie Fryklund, the starter for Arizona Christian, as she threw five no-hit innings.
Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) replaced Miranda in the top of the fourth and got out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the score at 1-0. However, the Firestorm got the insurance they needed in the top of the fifth against her. Buckley took a leadoff walk and she would steal second, jumping to third in the process as the ball hit the leg of Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) and skipped away. A singled to right scored Buckley to make it 2-0, which, unfortunately, was enough for Fryklund.
Vanguard did break the no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth, as Colenzo smacked a single to right field, but she would not advance any further. Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) got a single with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give some hope to the Lions. She advanced to second on a ground out and got to third on a wild pitch. With the game a little more in the balance, Smith came back out and got a ground-out to end the game, with ACU taking the 2-0 shutout.
Miranda falls to 4-4, going three and a third with two strikeouts and one earned run. Anniyah Farley went one and one-third, giving up one run, walking two, and striking out one. Mia Portillo (SO/Buena Park, CA) finished out the game, walking two and getting one K. Fryklund had three walks and goes to 2-2 for the season, with Smith picking up her second save of the campaign.
Why is it Important? Vanguard has now lost three of the past four to ACU. The Firestorm are now second in the conference, one game up on VU, with William Jessup at the top of the standings, although the Warriors were idle on Friday.
What's Next? A doubleheader against OUAZ tomorrow starting at noon.
