COSTA MESA – The home debut for Vanguard softball saw the Lions host #10 Southern Oregon for the second doubleheader of the season between the two programs. VU had lost both games to the Raiders up north but was able to claim a game one victory on the back of a Carli Row (JR/Riverside, CA) single in the bottom of the eighth. Unfortunately, the Raiders then put up an 11-0 win to split the wins on the day. VU goes to 4-4 overall, while SOU goes to 3-1.
What Happened? The first contest of the afternoon was an enthralling matchup, as the Lions and the Raiders each provided clutch moments to send the game to overtime. Brianna Williams (SO/Chandler, AZ) and Cayla Williams squared off for the second time this season and both collected six strikeouts. Brianna Williams was more effective over the first four innings, allowing only one hit, but Cayla Williams hit her stride later in the contest to allow her side to get back into the mix for a win.
Cayla Williams allowed the Lions to strike first in the bottom of the second. Victoria Griffith (FR/Aliso Viejo, CA) beat out a throw to reach first and was then able to scamper to second on the play, as the SOU defender let the ball get to the fence. Annie Swanson (FR/Eagle, ID) then slapped a single to left to drive in Griffith, with Swanson reaching second on the play due to an error by the left fielder. However, VU could not bring her in but left the inning with a 1-0 advantage.
The lead grew to two in the bottom of the third, as Kaylie Williams (SO/Moreno Valley, CA) batted a single to center with two outs. Ashlyn Whipple (FR/Las Vegas, NV) got an infield single and Megan Ireland (FR/Tempe, AZ) came out to run for Williams. Brianna Williams helped her own cause by slashing a single to left-center field, making it 2-0.
SOU got on the board in the top of the fifth, as a leadoff triple and a single made it 2-1. But Vanguard made a reply instantly in the bottom half of the frame, as Bianca Morales (JR/Spring Valley, CA) smashed the first pitch she saw over the fence in left-center for her second home run of the year.
Up 3-1, Vanguard tried to hold onto the lead but Southern Oregon had other ideas. A walk and a single put two runners on in the top of the sixth and an error allowed one run to come in. But Brianna Williams got out of the jam with a fly out and a ground out. She then got the first out in the top of the seventh but the Raiders got three-straight singles to tie the game. The starter for the Blue and Gold got the final two outs but VU could not score in the home half of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.
The Raiders got their tie-breaker runner to third on a double steal but Brianna Williams fanned the next two hitters to escape without giving up a run.
Andrea Connor (FR/San Jose, CA) pinch-ran on second to start the bottom of the eighth and was bunted to third. That brought up Row and she battled off a couple of pitches before poking a ground ball through on the right side to bring Connor home and give VU a walk-off 4-3 victory.
Vanguard scored four runs on eight hits, had one error, and left five runners on base. SOU had one run on eight hits, three errors, and left 10 runners stranded. Brianna Williams goes to 3-1, while Cayla Williams drops to 1-1. Swanson was the only Lion to have two hits.
The dramatic win boosted the home side on opening day but SOU rebounded with authority in game two. VU had only two hits, as Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) and Emma Noble (SO/Camarillo, CA) singled in the bottom of the second. Beyond that, Katie Machado was laser-focused for the Raiders, as she picked up her second win of the season.
Mari Ipatzi (FR/Oxnard, CA) got the start for VU in game two, as she did not throw against Southern Oregon in the opening doubleheader of the year. She got tagged for three runs in the top of the first and gave up a home run in the top of the second. Emily Anderson (JR/Fort Collins, CO) and LeeAnne Miranda (SO/Westminster, CA) split the remaining three innings, with Anderson picking up one K and Miranda two. SOU piled up the runs in the top of the fourth to reach the mercy rule, scoring seven to set up the 11-0 win.
SOU had 10 hits, no errors, and three runners left on base in the win. VU had three errors in the second game. Ipatzi drops to 1-2 on the season.
Why is it Important? The split does keep VU ahead in the season series, as the Lions are now 9-7 against SOU all-time. It is also the first win in the past three games. The Lions also split with the Raiders at home last year.
What's Next? Vanguard plays La Sierra tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at noon.
