COSTA MESA -- The Vanguard softball team drew the OUAZ Spirit on Friday and split a twin bill for the 12th time this season.  Vanguard picked up a 3-1 victory before dropping the second contest 5-1, emerging 22-22 overall and 11-9 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.  OUAZ goes to 25-20 overall and 9-10 in the GSAC.
 
What Happened?  Brianna Williams had thrown her first career no-hitter the last time she saw the Spirit and she made it six hitless innings in a row by sending OAUZ down in order in the first.  Alexandra McCutcheon did not fare as well, as the Lions struck first with a pair of runs in the home half of the period.  Noni Chaves took a walk to start things off and Karly Colenzo laid down a bunt, with an errant throw by the OUAZ third baseman allowing Chaves to get to third and Colenzo to race to second.  Kaylie Williams then brought Chaves home on a fly out to center, sending the Lions ahead 1-0.  Mackenzie Hofmann then made it 2-0 by lancing a single to center to bring home Colenzo, though OUAZ got out of the inning from there.

The Spirit almost came back to force an early tie, as a single and a walk put two on base in the top of the second.  An error on a grounder got the Spirit on the board and a hit batter loaded the bases for the visitors.  Despite the pressure, Brianna Williams stonewalled the attempt by getting the next batter to pop up to second to retire the side and maintain a 2-1 edge.

The Spirit got two more runners on in the top of the third, with a single and another hit batter, but the final out was recorded as an OUAZ hitter illegally hit the ball two times in a row to strike out.
With both pitchers throwing well, the game moved along rapidly and the Blue and Gold added on some insurance in the bottom of the fifth.  Colenzo slammed a double to the left-field corner and a two-out single by Bianca Morales made it 3-1.
The Spirit got a leadoff single in the top of the seventh off Brianna Williams, the team's first since the third inning, but the VU starter set the next three hitters down to record the win.
 
The Lions scored three runs off six hits, had one error, and left six runners on base. OUAZ had one run on three hits, two errors, and also left six aboard.  Brianna Williams goes to 13-8 overall, fanning five and walking one over the course of seven innings.  McCutcheon drops to 15-9 and struck out six VU hitters for the Spirit.  The Lions got all of their hits from different players in the opening contest.
 
The second pitching matchup featured LeeAnne Miranda taking on Jazmine Ayala and both were clean in the first frame.  However, the Spirit collected two runs in the top of the second to snag an early advantage.  A single and a walk set up the guests, but VU got one out on a ground out to leave runners at first and third.  The Spirit then pulled off a double steal to jump ahead 1-0, as the throw from second back home was late to arrive.  The next batter hit a grounder to Emma Noble, who made a good throw to first, but the batter beat it out, with the runner at third coming home to make it 2-0.  Still, Miranda and the defense got out of the jam with a ground out.
 
The Spirit gained another run in the top of the third, as two errors by Vanguard helped OUAZ increase the gap to 3-0.  The top of the sixth also proved fruitful for the Spirit, as a leadoff walk got things going.  The team bunted the runner to second and another ground out and an error brought her home to make the score 4-0.
 
The bats finally responded for VU in the bottom of the sixth, as Chaves singled with one out.  Colenzo then hit a grounder, but Chaves beat the throw to second, allowing Colenzo to reach safely.  Kaylie Williams followed that up with a bloop single to center, cashing in Chaves to bring the deficit down to 4-1.  Unfortunately, the Spirit retired the next two hitters to end the threat.
 
OUAZ put things away in the seventh, as a leadoff single in the top half was brought around the horn to put the visitors up 5-1.  With a quiet bottom half, VU fell 5-1, scoring one run on five hits.  Three errors did not help the Vanguard cause, with four runners being left on base as well.  OUAZ scored five runs on seven hits, leaving six runners on base.  Kaylie Williams went 2-for-3 to pace the VU lineup.  Miranda struck out three and walked two and was only charged for three of the five OUAZ runs.  Miranda drops to 5-3 and Ayala improves to 5-4. 
 
Why is it Important?  The Lions got a little help in the standings, as Arizona Christian and Hope International split on Friday.  San Diego Christian also swept Jessup, giving VU a two-game edge on both the Spirit and the Warriors in the standings.  VU is one game up on the Oaks of Menlo, who are fourth in the GSAC.  The Lions are now 13-4 all-time against the Spirit.
 
What's Next?  The Firestorm will arrive for a noon doubleheader tomorrow, with big implications for the GSAC Tournament on the line.