COSTA MESA -- The Vanguard University softball team once more locked horns with William Jessup Saturday but just like in Rocklin, the teams could not prove any complete dominance over the other. The Warriors shut out Vanguard in game one 2-0, with the Lions then shutting out WJU 3-0 in the second game. The split leaves VU 34-12 overall and 13-7 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. WJU goes to 26-12 overall and 15-3 in the conference.
What Happened? G1: The two aces from each side squared off in game one, as Brianna Williams (FR/Chandler, AZ) and Katie Blankenheim represented their respective teams in circle. Williams had prevailed in Rocklin but it would be Blankenheim who picked up the win on this occasion.
Neither side produced much through three innings but the Warriors jumped on the board in the top of the fourth. A single and a double gave the visitors the lead, with Williams soon getting the third out to keep the damage to a minimum. Amarah Farley (FR/Hemet, CA) got a two-out single in the bottom half but she would not advance from there.
William Jessup struck again in the top of the fifth, with a single starting off the inning. The runner stole second and got to third on a past ball, with the batter at the plate driving her in on a sac-fly to left. Up 2-0, Blankenheim only gave up one more hit the rest of the way. Noni Chaves (SO/Ontario, CA) dropped a bunt single to start the bottom of the sixth and stole second, but VU went down in order from there and could not come back in the home half of the seventh.
The Lions had three hits and five runners left on base. WJU had two runs on six hits, one error, and six runners left on base. Blankenheim had one walk and one strikeout in seven innings to improve to 12-4. Williams falls to 22-5, getting eight strikeouts and walking two in the complete game effort. Chaves had two of the three Vanguard hits.
G2: The second pitching dual between the two squads saw Anniyah Farley (JR/Hemet, CA) take on Maikyla Nelson for William Jessup. This time it would be Farley who would get the win, as she was locked in from the beginning and the bats helped her out towards the middle of the game.
The teams combined for zero hits through three innings and once again, the scoring started in the fourth. Farley gave up a hit in the top half of the frame but then got a couple of ground outs to send the Warriors back to the dugout. Chaves started the bottom half with a single and Kaylie Williams (FR/Moreno Valley, CA) hit a single to right after that. Chaves dug hard and got to third, with the Warriors then throwing the ball to Nelson. However, the pitcher never established herself in the circle and the umpires never called time. Chaves recognized this and broke for home, scoring without a throw, with Williams reaching second in the process. Ahead 1-0, Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) lofted a single to left to bring home Sophia Kashou (FR/Anaheim, CA), who was running for Williams, putting the Lions ahead 2-0.
The Blue and Gold brought home one more in the bottom of the fifth, as Emma Noble (FR/Camarillo, CA) reached on a fielders choice. Aeri Corral (FR/Corona, CA) put down a sac-bunt to get her to second and Lailoni Mayfield (SR/Cerritos, CA) bounced a single through the infield to bring in Noble. Ahead 3-0, Farley did the rest, getting six-straight outs over the sixth and seventh innings to give VU the win.
Vanguard scored three runs on four hits, with one error and two runners left on base. WJU had three hits and three runners left aboard in game two. Farley goes to 4-3 on the season with the win, picking up four Ks during the game. She surrendered only four hits between Friday and today's game, with six total strikeouts. Nelson falls to 11-5. Mayfield and Colenzo each had an RBI, with Chaves and Kaylie Williams also getting a hit.
Why is it Important? The Lions remain two games behind the Warriors in the standings with four games left. WJU has six GSAC games left against OUAZ, Arizona Christian, and Menlo.
What is Next? The Lions will play on the road for the final time in the regular season on April 23, as the team will play two games against San Diego Christian starting at 2:00 p.m.
