Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS, Calif. -- Vanguard softball took part in a high-octane matchup with the University of Saint Katherine Firebirds Monday.  The Lions battled back in the first game to tie things at 9-9 before falling 10-9 in the bottom of the seventh.  The team responded by reaping in runs during an 11-3 victory in game two, taking VU to 21-21 overall and USK to 9-29.
 
 
What Happened?  The opening contest was an exchange of scoring chances that resulted in 19 total runs and high drama across the seven innings of action.  Brianna Williams took on Juliette Guerra and the Firebird starter was able to escape the top of the first without giving up a run, even though VU got two singles in the frame.  With Williams throwing up a zero in the bottom half, the Lions got a run in the top of the second thanks to a sac fly from Kaylee DeMaio, which scored Emma Noble.  Kaylie Williams did the same in the top of the third to bring home Noni Chaves, putting Vanguard up 2-0.  However, the Firebirds broke through the dyke and scored four runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, with Mari Ipatizi coming in to relive Williams in te bottom of the fourth.  While DeMaio brought home another run in the top of the fourth, both sides entered the fifth with USK on top 8-3.
 
Still, the Blue and Gold were not ready to give up on their pitchers.  Chaves opened the top of the fifth with a double down the right-field line and Karly Colenzo cashed her home on a single.  Bianca Morales also singled, with Colenzo getting to third.  With Morales getting to second on a ground out, Noble launched a double again into the right-field corner, cutting the gap to 8-6.  Noble jumped to third on a wild pitch and Adrianna Natividad singled to right, allowing Noble to score, making things a one run game at 8-7.
 
The Lions finished the comeback in the top of the sixth, with Marissa Gurrola leading off with a single to left.  A sac bunt got her to second and Colenzo again pocketed an RBI by shooting a single to right, leveling the game at 8-8.  Back came Brianna Williams into the circle for Vanguard but USK once more brought a runner all the way around to regain a 9-8 lead. 
 
But the Lions paved over the crack again, with Morales swatting a single to begin the top of the seventh.  A sac bunt from Mackenzie Hofmann advanced her and a sac fly came off the bat of Noble to knot things at 9-9.
 
Despite the quality comeback, USK came up with a single to start the bottom of the seventh and the Firebirds worked the runner around the horn with some small ball to third.  What would be the final hitter trickled a grounder in the infield but the runner from third beat the throw home, giving St. Katherine the 10-9 walk-off win.
 
USK scored 10 runs on 13 hits with five runners left on base.  VU had nine runs on 15 hits, one error, and four runners left on base.  Noble led the squad with three RBI an went 2-for-3.  Colenzo and DeMaio had two RBI apiece.  Natividad went 3-for-4 and both Chaves and Colenzo had two hits in the opening game.  Brianna Williams went five innings and falls to 12-8.
 
Vanguard decided to slug some of its frustration away in the second game of the day.  Chaves bombed a double to start the contest and two flyouts brought her the rest of the way home, with Kaylie Williams getting the RBI.  Also looking to bounce back was Vanessa Robles and she blanked the Firebirds over the first two innings before USK got a run off a single in the bottom of the third.
 
Still, the offense lit up USK reliever Sam Whitworth in the top of the fourth to the tune of eight runs.  Williams reached on an error and Hofmann and Noble worked their way aboard with a walk and a single respectively.  A wild pitch scored the first run and Megan Ireland took a walk to juice the bases again.  DeMaio skied a ball to center, bringing Hofmann home on the sac fly to put the Lions up 3-1.  Gurrola then smoked a single to left to score two more, making it 5-1, and she then stole second. Chaves tattooed a double to left, as Gurrola romped home to make it 6-1.  A walk for Colenzo and a single by Williams brought home Chaves, with a two RBI single for Morales following that to conclude the scoring for VU, putting the squad up 9-1.
 
The Firebirds snipped two runs back in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 9-3, with LeeAnne Miranda replacing Robles.  Undeterred, VU snapped back into action in the top of the sixth.  Ashlyn Whipple pounced with a two-out single and up stepped Paige Bristol.  The freshman was given a money pitch and she did not disappoint, bashing her first career home run to send the Lions ahead 11-3.  In a position to win via the mercy rule, Miranda fanned the side to collect the win for Vanguard. 
 
VU tallied 11 runs on nine hits and had one error.  USK had three runs on five hits and also had one error.  Both Chaves and Morales had two hits apiece, with Morales, Williams, and Gurrola each cashing in two runs.  Robles went 3.2 innings, giving up five hits, three runs, and striking out two.  Miranda went the final 2.1 of the game and was perfect in her appearance, with seven Ks and only one batter reaching on an error during her spell in the ball game, improving to 5-2 on the season.
 
Why is it Important? VU is now 21-2 against the Firebirds.  Chaves has now had at least one multi-base hit in four of the past six games.
 
What's Next?  The Lions will play a huge Golden State Athletic Conference weekend slate of games.  Within striking distance of Hope and looking to earn a top seed in the GSAC tournament, VU will start with a doubleheader against OUAZ on Friday, starting at 2 p.m.