ATHERTON, Calif.  -- For the first time in over a month, Vanguard softball swept a doubleheader, as the Lions beat the Menlo Oaks on the road on Friday.  A tight 2-1 win thanks to a wild pitch gave Brianna Williams and VU game one, with LeeAnne Miranda pitching a shutout in game two.  Noni Chaves and Bianca Morales drove in two runs each to help Vanguard win 4-0 in the twin bill, putting VU at 19-19 overall and 9-7 in Golden State Athletic Conference action.  Menlo falls to 9-23 overall and 7-9 in the GSAC. 


What Happened?  Williams only notched two strikeouts in game one but gave up only three hits in her complete game effort.  Vivian Valencia bested her with six Ks but the Menlo starter could not keep VU off the board.  While both pitchers were able to keep the game scoreless over the first two innings, the Lions opened the scoring in the top of the third.  Chaves smashed a deep ball that turned into a triple, with Emma Noble knocking her in with a double down the left-field line right after.  

Ahead 1-0 and with the defense turning a nice double play in the bottom of the third, the Blue and Gold scored what would turn out to be the winning run.  A double for Morales was followed by a walk for Marissa Gurrola.  Tiffany Pope lanced a single to load up the bases and an errant pitch brought Morales home, putting the Lions up 2-0.

Williams shut the Oaks down in the bottom of the fourth but Menlo picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth.  A single and a wild pitch put a runner on second, with a groundout getting her to third.  Two batters later, an error allowed the Oaks to score, but Williams go the next MC hitter to pop up in the infield to end the danger.  The VU starter then locked it down the rest of the way, recording six-straight outs to pick up the 2-1 victory.

Vanguard scored two runs on six hits, had two errors, and left five runners on base.  Menlo scored one run on three hits and left four runners on base.  Williams goes to 10-7 on the season and Noble was 2-for-4 at the top of the lineup for the Lions.

Game two of the afternoon saw Kaylie Williams double for VU in the top of the first but she would be thrown out at third on a ground ball to end the frame.  With Miranda holding Menlo off the board in the first and the second, the offense got to work again in the top of the third.

Lexi Rolin took a leadoff walk and a ground out got her to second.  Chaves belted her second triple of the day to put the Lions up 1-0.  Williams then took a walk and Morales cashed in both runners with a single to push VU ahead 3-0.  Even though MC soon retired the side, the lead would increase in the top of the fourth again.

Rolin started the inning off with a single and Chaves would continue to grab extra-base hits by clobbering a double to bring in Rolin, putting Vanguard up 4-0.  That turned out to be more than enough for Miranda, who was in fine form on Friday.  With some great defense behind her, Miranda held Menlo to four hits for the game, racking up six strikeouts and issuing only one walk.  MC did not get a runner to third in the second game and left all five runners on base.  Miranda goes to 3-1 on the season with the win.
The Lions scored four runs on eight hits, committing only one error and leaving six runners on base.  Chaves was 2-for-3 to lead the lineup and seven different players had at least one hit for VU.
 

Why is it Important?  Vanguard is now in second place in the GSAC, three games behind Hope International.  That is now three wins in a row against MC and VU is 29-8 all-time against the Oaks.


What's Next?  Another noon doubleheader, this time against the Jessup Warriors on Saturday, who are one game behind VU.