COSTA MESA – Vanguard softball missed playing last week due to the rain but returned to the VU Softball Field on Thursday for a doubleheader against Simpson.  The first game resulted in a pitching dual between Kylee Potes and Brianna Williams (SO/Chandler, AZ), with both notching over five strikeouts.  Yet the Red Hawks got timely hitting and the Lions could not figure out Potes, with Simpson taking the first contest 4-1.  However, VU was able to turn up with some clutch plays in the second contest, as the Lions snagged a 2-1 win behind LeeAnne Miranda (SO/Westminster, CA).  The Lions go to 7-7 overall while the Red Hawks go to 10-8.

What Happened?  The Lions were unable to bat any runs home over the course of the game, scoring only one run in the bottom of the fourth that did not count as an RBI.  Mackenzie Hofmann (JR/Tujunga, CA) took a leadoff walk and Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) was asked to bunt her over to second.  The attempt was sublime, almost sticking to the dirt a little down the third-base line.  Hofmann had a bad jump and the Red Hawk third baseman tried to gun her down at second.  However, she airmailed the throw, which skipped all the way to the fence in center.  This allowed Hofmann to score and Colenzo to truck all the way to third to make the score 4-1.  Unfortunately, that would be the only run scored for VU in game one.

Simpson picked up runs in the first and third innings, with a walk, a sac bunt, and another single putting the guests ahead in the first.  A leadoff single and a one-out double scored the second Red Hawk run of the game in the top of the third, with the visitors tacking on another run two batters later via an error to increase the gap to 3-0.

Simpson made it 4-0 in the top of the fourth, with a pair of singles and then a passed ball doing the damage. 

Williams allowed only one base runner over the final three innings while not giving up a hit, but the Blue and Gold could not help her out offensively.  VU got two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh frames but they would be stranded there, with Simpson picking up the 4-1 victory.

VU had one run on four hits, one error, and nine runners left on base.  Simpson scored four runs on five hits, had one error, and left five runners stranded.  Williams falls to 4-3 on the year, as she went all seven innings while collecting eight strikeouts.  She also walked four and was charged with three of the four Simpson runs. Potes was clinical in the circle for the Red Hawks, fanning seven and not getting charged for a run.  She also walked four hitters.

Game Two

Miranda took the circle and Simpson got a leadoff single and a two-out walk to threaten early once again.  The VU starter remained focused though and got the next hitter to ground out to retire the side.  The Red Hawks got a single in the top of the second but a lineout to shortstop once more sent the guests back to the dugout in a timely manner.

VU then broke out of its slump by scoring two runs in the bottom of the second.  Williams led off with a single and Ashlyn Whipple (FR/Las Vegas, NV) bunted her to second.  A wild pitch got Williams to third and Megan Ireland (FR/Tempe, AZ) took a walk.  Lexi Rolin (FR/Bakersfield, CA) then slapped a grounder right back to the pitcher but Jessica Ulshoeffer sailed the throw over first base, with Williams scoring on the error, Ireland getting to third, and Rolin scampering to second.  Noni Chaves (JR/Ontario, CA) then lasered a single through on the left side to put the Lions up 2-0, but they could not cash in any more runs. 

Both pitchers limited any opportunities through the middle innings, with the teams finding only a smattering of base runners and six combined hits between the third and sixth innings.

Miranda had worked her way through the Simpson lineup twice but the cart began to wobble in the top of the seventh.  The Red Hawks pounced with two outs, as three straight singles halved the lead to 2-1.  Searching for one lone out, Emily Anderson (JR/Fort Collins, CO) came in and tried to close the door but gave up a walk to load the bases.  Miranda then returned and with all the pressure against her, got the next hitter to smack a bouncer down the first-base line.  Bianca Morales (JR/Spring Valley, CA) flashed her glove and scooped it up, getting the runner out at first to end the game.

The Lions scored two runs on five hits, had one error, and left five runners on base.  Simpson scored one run on eight hits, had two errors, and left nine on base.  Williams had two hits, tying Morales for the team lead. Miranda goes to 1-0 on the year and garnered two strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Why is it Important?  The Lions have split three of the past four doubleheaders with the Red Hawks but still own a 13-12 all-time series record against Simpson.

What's Next?  The Tigers of Wittenberg will fly out and take on the Lions on Monday, March 6, starting at noon.