COSTA MESA – The Hope International Royals came to the Vanguard softball field on Tuesday to open Golden State Athletic Conference play having owned the series in recent years.  The Vanguard Lions, fresh off a pummeling of Wittenberg, reversed that trend to beat the Royals in both games, getting past reigning GSAC Pitcher of the Year Allie Puente 2-0 and then teeing off in game two to win 11-1.  The Lions improve to 11-7 overall and start the conference campaign at 2-0, while HIU falls to 12-4, 0-2.

What Happened?  It was another matchup between the top two pitchers in the GSAC in the opening game, as Brianna Williams (SO/Chandler, AZ) and Puente opposed each other for the third time in their careers.  Each ace won once last year and both delivered quality outings again on Tuesday, but the VU starter was just a little better.  Puente went six innings, giving up three hits, one walk, and striking out 12.  Williams went all seven frames, fanning seven and surrendering four hits and one walk.  The difference was the run category, as Puente gave up two runs, one earned, while Williams kept Hope scoreless in the game.

The two Vanguard runs came late in the game, as both sides combined for only five base runners through four innings. The Blue and Gold struck first in the bottom of the fifth as Williams reached on a dropped ball by the left fielder, with the pitcher reaching second on the error.  Annie Swanson (FR/Eagle, ID) then followed that with a single, with Williams scampering home to put the Lions ahead 1-0.

After Williams locked down HIU in the top half, Kaylie Williams (SO/Moreno Valley, CA) led off the bottom of the sixth by smashing the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her first home run of the season.  Bianca Morales (JR/Spring Valley, CA) got a one-out double as well but was left standing on second.

Brianna Williams saw two Royals get singles in the top of the seventh, but the next hitter grounded out to short to retire the side and give Vanguard a 2-0 win to open GSAC play.

VU scored two runs on three hits and left three runners on base.  HIU had four hits, one error, and five runners left aboard.  Brianna Williams goes to 5-3 on the season, while Puente drops to 7-1. 

Game 2

The Lions used a huge third inning in the second game to romp their way to a five-inning victory.  LeeAnne Miranda (SO/Westminster, CA) took on Olivia Candelas and the two were able to work through two innings unscathed.  Miranda set down the Royals in order in the top of the third and the offense roared into life from there.

Noni Chaves (JR/Ontario, CA) led off with a single and Kaylie Williams followed suit to put two on base.  Ashley Klopfenstein (SR/Indio, CA) then doubled down the left field line to bring Chaves home and put VU up 1-0.  Karly Colenzo (SR/Downey, CA) took a walk to load up the bases and Emma Noble (SO/Camarillo, CA) smacked a single to center to score two.  Ahead 3-0, Carli Row (JR/Riverside, CA) took a two-out walk to load up the bases again and Lexi Rolin (FR/Bakersfield, CA) delivered the goods with a single to left to score two, with the throw allowing Rolin to reach second and Row to end up at third. Chaves was then hit by a pitch to juice the bases again and a passed ball brought in one more run.  Williams, up for the second time in the frame, snapped a single to center and two runs came across to extend the lead to 8-0.  However, she was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double to end the inning, as six hits brought in eight runs.

The Royals scored for the first time all day in the top of the fourth, as two singles and an error loaded up the bases for the visitors.  A hit batter made the score 8-1 but Miranda then got a strikeout and a groundout to keep HIU from scoring any more runs. 

The Blue and Gold then got into mercy-rule territory by putting up three runs in the home half of the fourth.  Klopfenstein reached first as the HIU third baseman sent a throw to the fence and she would get to second on a ground out a batter later.  A bobble by the Royal shortstop allowed Colenzo to reach first and Noble got hit by a pitch to load up the bases for the fourth time in the contest.  Swanson did not disappoint with three ducks on the pond as she doubled to left to cash in two runs.  A single from Marissa Gurrola (SO/Downey, CA) brought home Noble to increase the advantage to 11-1 and put HIU on thin ice.

Hope got a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, but the Lions kept the Royals from getting close to scoring. A ground out put one away and VU punctuated the inning with a double play to end the game, as Chaves caught a lined ball to center and threw out the HIU runner at second, as she could not get back to the bag in time.

The Lions scored 11 runs on 10 hits, had one error, and left four runners on base.  HIU scored one run on five hits, had two errors, and had six runners left on base.  Miranda went the distance and picked up six Ks, improving to 2-0 on the season.  Candelas falls to 4-3, as she gave up seven runs on eight runs while striking out two.  Williams went 3-for-3 in the game and had two RBI, as did three other Lions.  Gurrola was 2-for-2 and four VU players scored twice in a very balanced offensive effort.

Why is it Important?  The Lions have now won three in a row against HIU, tying some of the longest winning streaks against Hope in recent history.  It is also the first sweep of the Royals since April 4, 2017.  Williams picked up her first shutout against HIU and Puente, which was the first shutout by VU against a Hope pitcher since May 2, 2017.

What Was Said?  "We came into today knowing it is the start of our second season," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners.  "There is no better way to start GSAC play.  I'm very proud of our team, it took everyone!" 

What's Next?  The Lions will hit the road for three series at the end of the week, weather permitting. The first will be a GSAC doubleheader against San Diego Christian on Friday, March 10, starting at noon.