SURPRISE, Ariz. – Vanguard swept OUAZ in Friday softball doubleheader action as Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) tallied her 20th win of the season in game one, while the Lion bats broke out in a big way in a mercy-rule game two victory.
The Lions extended their winning streak to four straight in improving to 30-10 overall and 9-5 in Golden State Athletic Conference play. The Spirit fell to 23-13 and 7-7 in league action.
What Happened? Game 1: Williams became the fourth player in Vanguard history to win 20 games as she tossed a two-hit shutout.
Williams joined the likes of Shannon Taylor, Beth Howard and Vanessa Dwyer on the exclusive list of Lion 20-game winners. She posted her 19th complete game of the 2022 campaign and avenged a 1-0 loss to the Spirit on March 19, limiting the Spirit to lone singles in the first and sixth innings.
The right-hander walked one and struck out seven, and allowed just one OUAZ runner to reach second base. Williams retired 12 straight hitters at one point and struck out the side in the second inning.
The Lions struck quickly in the first with a pair of runs. Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) reached on an error to lead off the game and moved up a base on a single from Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA). After a double steal, Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) drove in both runners with a single off OUAZ starter Alexandra McCutcheon.
Vanguard increased the lead to 3-0 in with a single run in the third. Mayfield collected a leadoff single and advanced to second as Chaves executed a sacrifice bunt. Kaylie Williams drove in Mayfield on a fielder's choice in which the left fielder threw out Williams attempting to advance to second.
Brianna Williams cruised through the OUAZ order, striking out five of six batters between the second and third innings. She lowered her ERA to 1.13. Her 125 strikeouts rank No. 2 in the GSAC.
Game 2: LeeAnne Miranda (FR/Westminster, CA) got the ball for the Lions in game two, and she tossed an effective five innings with just four hits and one run allowed.
The Lions clubbed McCutcheon for eight runs – six of them earned – in 3.1 innings.
McCutcheon sat down six straight Lions through the first two innings, but the bottom of the order got things going in the third.
Ashley Klopfenstein (JR/Indio, CA) hit a leadoff single and got into scoring position on a ground out. With two away, Mayfield stroked an RBI double for the first Lions run. A bunt single from Chaves placed runners at the corners, and VU got two into scoring position after Chaves swiped second.
Both Lions came around to score on a single by Kaylie Williams, who advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. With a 3-0 lead, VU pounced again as Bianca Morales (SO/Spring Valley, CA) doubled to score Williams. Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) knocked in Morales with a single as the Lions led 5-0.
McCutcheon struggled some more in the fourth as Chaves followed an Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) single and Mayfield walk with an RBI knock to make it 6-0. McCutcheon was pulled in favor of Cori Turner, who got Kaylie Williams on a fly out to center. Both Chaves and Mayfield scored on the play as VU went up 8-0.
Miranda pitched effectively, getting a double play ball to end the second and retiring five of six batters through the third and fourth innings. She allowed a home run to OUAZ catcher Briana Tucker in the fifth for her only blemish.
Meanwhile, the Lions dropped two more runs on OUAZ pitching in the sixth as Carli Row (SO/Riverside, CA) produced an RBI single, and Morales scored on an Amarah Farley fielder's choice.
With a 10-1 lead, Vanguard looked to finish the game with Mia Portillo (SO/Buena Park, CA) coming on in relief of Miranda. Portillo preserved the run-rule victory as she gave up a two-out RBI single in the sixth.
Chaves, Kaylie Williams and Klopfenstein all had two hits. Williams and Farley both drove in a pair.
Why Is It Important?: Vanguard remains on the trail of league-leading William Jessup. The Lions are three games back with 10 to play, including a home doubleheader against the Warriors next week.
What Was Said?: "I'm very happy with how the team competed today," said Head Coach Amber Freeman. "We have been struggling with game two and it was great seeing them come out swinging, and to take two today."
What's Next: The Lions finish up their roadtrip to the Grand Canyon state with a doubleheader against Arizona Christian on Saturday. First pitch for game one is slated for 11:00 a.m.
