COSTA MESA – The Vanguard softball team waded out for another doubleheader Friday, as the La Sierra Golden Eagles arrived on the VU Softball Field.  The Lions did not take the contests lightly and produced two mercy-rule victories, blanking LSU 11-0 in the first game and winning 11-3 in the second game.  Vanguard improves to 6-4 on the season, as La Sierra falls to 1-3. 

What Happened? The Blue and Gold got five near-flawless innings from Brianna Williams (SO/Chandler, AZ) and LeeAnne Miranda (SO/Westminster, CA) in the opening contest.  Williams threw the first three innings, collecting five strikeouts and allowing two hits along the way.  Miranda then held the Golden Eagles to three hits over the next two innings, keeping them off the board to help seal the shutout decision.

Meanwhile, the offense lit the scoreboard in the first frame, as Bianca Morales (JR/Spring Valley, CA) smashed a double to left field to start the inning.  Kaylie Williams (SO/Moreno Valley, CA)  singled to bring in Morales and put VU up 1-0, with Brianna Williams soon following that with a single of her own.  Annie Swanson (FR/Eagle, ID)  then dropped in a single to right, bringing in Kaylie Williams to increase the lead to 2-0.  With two on, Emma Noble (SO/Camarillo, CA) lasered a double to left, cashing in two more to make it 4-0.  Andrea Connor (FR/San Jose, CA) doubled shortly after to bring in Noble and give the Lions a 5-0 edge after one inning.

The top of the lineup once more produced in the bottom of the second, with Morales taking a walk to start the inning.  Kaylie Williams then gashed a triple to center, pushing the lead to 6-0.  Mackenzie Hofmann (JR/Tujunga, CA) then unloaded on a ball and drove it over the fence in left-center field to make it 8-0 on her first home run of the year.  Noble scored later in the inning on an error by the center fielder, as VU held a 9-0 advantage at the end of the second inning.

The final two runs came in the bottom of the third, with Kaylee DeMaio (SO/Simi Valley, CA) taking a walk to start things off.  Paige Bristol (FR/Clovis, CA) and Mia Portillo (JR/Buena Park, CA) each notched singles to juice the bases, and Hofmann got to first on an error by the catcher, with a run coming in on the play.  A couple of batters later, Lexi Rolin (FR/Bakersfield, CA) reached on another error, this time by the La Sierra shortstop, as Bristol crossed home plate to conclude the scoring and make it 11-0.

The Lions scored 11 runs on 11 hits, had one error, and left five on base.  LSU had five hits, three errors, and four runners left aboard.  Williams improves to 4-1 on the season.  Kaylie Williams and Noble each had two hits, with Williams, Hofmann, and Noble leading the lineup with two RBI each.

The offense continued to groove in game two, posting 11 runs again in the span of five innings. However, it would be the Golden Eagles who got on the board first.  Portillo was awarded her first start of the year but gave up a walk to the first batter she saw.  A couple of ground outs later, the leadoff hitter was on third and a single put La Sierra up 1-0.

Happily, the Blue and Gold were back in the lead at the end of the first.  Morales took a leadoff walk and Kaylie Williams bowled a ball that just stayed fair down the third-base line, with Williams huffing it out for a triple, as Morales scored with ease.  Two batters later and Swanson would smash a ball that skipped over the glove of the La Sierra third baseman to make it 2-1 in favor of Vanguard.

The Lions then hung a seven spot on the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the second.  Adrianna Natividad (SO/Norwalk, CA) reached on an error and Connor took a walk.  DeMaio pushed the two one base over on a sac bunt and a booming double by Morales off the top of the left-field fence made it 4-1.  Kaylie Williams then rocketed a double through the right-center gap, sending Morales home to increase the lead to 5-1.  Hofmann singled and Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) did as well to score Williams and add another run to the board.  A single for Swanson loaded the bases and a wild pitch brought home Hofmann to make the lead 7-1.  Walks to Natividad and DeMaio would help boost the gap to 9-1.

La Sierra loaded the bases to start the top of the third and a ground out brought home one run.  Portillo walked the next hitter to load the bases again but got a ground out right after to end the danger. 

A single by Victoria Griffith (FR/Aliso Viejo, CA) in the bottom of the third brought home Megan Ireland (FR/Tempe, AZ), bumping the lead to 10-2.  A double for Bristol in the bottom of the fourth brought in Aeri Corral (SO/Corona, CA), putting the lead well out of reach at 11-2. 

Portillo got two outs in the top of the fifth but then gave up a triple.  A wild pitch gifted LSU a run but a lineout then ended the ball game, as VU won 11-3 in five innings for the second game in a row.

The Lions scored 11 runs on 10 hits and left six runners on base.  LSU had three runs on four hits, two errors, and seven left on base.

Portillo went the distance, getting two Ks en route to her first win of the season.  Kaylie Williams and Swanson each had two hits, with Williams and Morales pacing the group with two RBI each.

Why is it Important? Vanguard is now 26-4 all-time against the Golden Eagles.  The Lions scored more than 10 runs only three times last season and now have two on one day.   

What Was Said? "Today's wins were great team wins for us," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners.  "It took all 29 of us today."

What's Next? The Lions will take on Westcliff next Friday, February 17, for a doubleheader starting at noon.