COSTA MESA -- The Vanguard University softball team picked up its first Golden State Athletic Conference sweep of the season Saturday against San Diego Christian. The Lions came from behind to take game one 3-2 and chugged ahead early to claim game two 6-2. VU goes to 28-10 overall and 7-5 in GSAC action, while SDCC falls to 10-16, 2-8.
What Happened? G1: Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) gave up one single in the top of the first but quickly got the next out, bringing the Lions to the plate. Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) got a single to right in the bottom half but Amaryssa Medina got the next out to keep VU from scoring. Both teams were quiet in the second and third but the Hawks made a move for the lead in the top of the fourth.
A one-out single put an SDCC player aboard and an error allowed another runner to reach safely. The next batter dug in and slapped a shot towards shortstop Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA). The ball took a big hop and rolled over her glove and ricocheted off her shoulder. But in the process, it landed in the glove of Mayfield, who was covering second, making the force out on the runner from first. With everyone looking at second, the lead runner reached third and took off for home, scoring on the play to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Trying to pick up a run for Brianna Williams, the Lions got a single from Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) to start the bottom half and Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) took a walk as well. However, a fly-out and a groundout sent VU back to the dugout. SDCC then put up one more run in the top of the sixth to increase the pressure on Vanguard. A single and a passed ball got the leadoff hitter to second, with a groundout getting her to third. A two-out triple easily scored the runner but Brianna Williams kept the Hawks from scoring more.
With the game coming to a close, the Blue and Gold buckled down and fought back. Kaylie Williams took a walk, with Carli Row (SO/Riverside, CA) coming in to run for her. Morales took a walk and a sac-bunt from Colenzo put the pair at second and third. Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) batted a single to left to score one and Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) took a walk to load the bases. Noble took a ball off her shoulder to score one and Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) drew a walk to put VU ahead 3-2. Even though the squad left the bases load, they went to the seventh with a lead.
The Hawks got a walk with one out in the top of the seventh and a wild pitch got the runner to second to give the guests a shot at tying the game. But Brianna Williams closed the door, getting a groundout to give the Lions the 3-2 victory.
SDCC had two runs on six hits and left eight runners on base. VU had three runs on six hits, one error, and left eight on base as well. Brianna Williams went the distance, striking out eight and walking three to go to 19-3 on the season. Medina falls to 6-6, getting three Ks and five walks. Mayfield led the lineup with two hits.
G2: Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) got the start and she had a clean first inning, getting a strikeout to end the top of the first. After that, the Blue and Gold did not waste any time getting ahead. Adrianna Natividad (FR/Norwalk, CA) singled to get the bottom half going and Chaves bunted her to second. A two-out double from Morales cashed in Natividad, giving VU the 1-0 lead. Farley continued dealing, giving up only one hit over the span of the second and third innings to keep the Lions ahead.
Chaves got a single on a bunt with one out in the bottom of the third and she soon stole second. With two outs, Morales again provided the offense, driving in Chaves with a single to left. Up 2-0, the Lions increased the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Natividad took a walk to start the inning and Chaves again dropped a bunt, once more beating the throw. Kaylie Williams smacked a hard shot to second that escaped the glove of the second baseman, which allowed Natividad to score and Chaves to reach third. Morales then ripped a triple to right-center field to score both of them, as #11 continued to stay hot in the contest. A walk brought up Julia Ceballos (SO/Oceanside, CA) and even though she grounded out to short, Morales was able to score on the play, giving Farley and the Lions a 6-0 advantage.
San Diego Christian would not go quietly though, as the Hawks got a leadoff single to start the sixth. Two more followed to score one and a groundout scored another, slimming the lead to 6-2. But Farley picked up one more groundout to end the threat. She gave up only a one-out walk in the top of the seventh, setting the next two hitters down to pick up the victory 6-2.
SDCC scored two runs on eight hits, with two errors and eight runners left on base. Vanguard scored six runs on eight hits and left eight on base as well. Farley goes to 2-3 on the season, as she picked up seven Ks and three walks in seven innings of work. Morales had a great second game, going 3-for-3 with four RBI. Natividad and Chaves each had two hits.
Why is it Important? VU has now won the past four games against the Hawks and remains in third in the GSAC, a half-game back of OUAZ.
What's Next? Vanguard will make the Arizona swing next week, starting out with two games against second-place OUAZ on April 1, starting at 2:00 p.m.
