GLENDALE, Ariz. –  Vanguard softball began the weekend road trip to the Grand Canyon State with a brace of games against Arizona Christian.  The Lions have run into some trouble lately against the Firestorm, as ACU has won four of the past six matchups.  That trend continued Friday as league-leading ACU picked up a pair of wins, downing VU 3-1 and then 5-4.  Vanguard falls to 11-10 overall and 2-3 in Golden State Athletic Conference action, while Arizona Christian goes to 21-6 overall and 5-1 in conference play. 

What Happened? Brianna Williams (SO/Chandler, AZ) squared off against Savannah Smith in the circle and while each gave up a hit in the first, neither pitcher surrendered a run.  However, the Firestorm plunked down the first tally of the game in the bottom of the second, as an error allowed a runner to reach base.  The next hitter smacked a double to left-center field, and while the runner scored, the throw home by Noni Chaves (JR/Ontario, CA) was zipped by Kaylie Williams (SO/Moreno Valley, CA) to Ashley Klopfenstein (SR/Indio, CA) at third to gun down the batter for out number two.  The Firestorm had another double after that but a ground out got VU out of the frame.

Both sides progressed through the third and the fourth with no runs scored and the VU bats soon had something going in the top of the fifth.  Klopfenstein reached on a fielder's choice and she then stole second.  Facing two outs, Chaves slashed a single up the middle to bring home Klopfenstein and knot the score at 1-1.

Despite the positive gains, ACU undid the effort in the home half of the frame.  A one-out double and a single put runners at the corners, with ACU then collecting a groundout and a single to push the Firestorm ahead 3-1.

Smith held the Lions hitless over the final two innings to bring the 3-1 win to fruition.  VU had one run on three hits, one error, and three runners left on base.  ACU put up three runs on eight hits and left seven runners aboard.  Brianna Williams struck out three batters and got charged for two of the three runs, falling to 6-5 on the season.  Smith jumps to 13-5, as she fanned five batters.  Emma Noble (SO/Camarillo, CA) and Williams had the other two VU hits.

The second contest seemed primed for a big Vanguard win.  Facing Trinity Lawson, Kaylie Williams led off with a walk.  Noble followed that with a single and Williams was able to run to third as the center fielder lofted a bad throw back to the infield.  A groundout got Noble to second and with two outs, Chaves tapped a ball to short.  The ACU defender came up firing but for the second time in the frame, the throw went wild, allowing Williams and Noble to score.

A 2-0 lead was a confidence booster for LeeAnne Miranda (SO/Westminster, CA), who gave up a single in the bottom of the first but then recorded three straight outs to retire the side.  Both pitchers fared well through the next three innings, with no other runs scored, but the Lions returned to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth.

Megan Ireland (FR/Tempe, AZ) led off with a base knock and a single for Williams put her on second.  Bianca Morales (JR/Spring Valley, CA) then mashed a double to left to score the pair, as VU ran the lead up to 4-0.

Things were looking rosy but the Firestorm rocked the boat over the next two innings.  Three one-out singles in a row in the bottom of the fifth loaded the bases for ACU and a sac fly made it 4-1.  Miranda got a K to end the frame, but Arizona Christian backed up their production with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.  This time, two straight singles opened the frame and Mari Ipatzi (FR/Oxnard, CA) came on to try to stem the tide.  Unfortunately, she hit the next batter and a double down the left field line cleared the bases to level the score at 4-4.

VU had a chance in the top of the seventh to go ahead, as Williams reached on an error and another Noble single pushed her to third, but ACU got a strikeout to end the threat. 

Vanguard would not get another shot at a win.  A single and a walk put ACU in a winning position and with one out, Abbi Covalt walked it off with a single to give Arizona Christian a 5-4 comeback win. 

VU scored four runs on seven hits, had one error, and left four runners on base.  ACU scored five runs on 12 hits, had three errors, and had eight runners left on base.  Emily Anderson (JR/Fort Collins, CO) got VU out of the bottom of the sixth but gave up the winning run to drop to 0-1 on the season.  She had one strikeout as did Miranda, who went five innings and gave up three runs on nine hits.  Smith came back to pitch in the seventh for ACU and got the win to go to 14-5 on the season.  Noble went 2-for-4 and both Chaves and Morales had two RBI. 

Why is it Important?  Vanguard is now fifth in the conference and ACU now holds a one-game lead over HIU in first.  Vanguard is now 24-15 against the Firestorm all-time.

What's Next?  VU will complete the road trip with two games tomorrow against OUAZ, starting at noon.