COSTA MESA – Vanguard softball closed out the regular season on Friday with a doubleheader split against Antelope Valley, dropping the first game 4-0 before rebounding with a 9-5 win in game two. The Lions stopped a six-game skid in the finale and celebrated the careers of seniors Emily Anderson and Karly Colenzo following the game.
VU's nine runs scored exceeded the eight they had combined during the six-game losing streak. VU is 9-4 this season when scoring five or more runs.
The Lions enter next week's Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed. They are 23-27 overall. The Pioneers moved to 24-25.
First baseman Bianca Morales had a productive day at the plate, going 4-for-7 with two runs scored and two RBI. Shortstop Emma Noble had a three-hit performance in game two.
The 14 hits the VU bats pounded out in game two tied for the third-most this season.
What Happened?
Game 1 – Anderson commanded the circle as the senior made her final pitching appearance at the VU Softball Field. The southpaw pitched well, but did not get any run support in the 4-0 loss.
Only two of the four runs she allowed were earned. She walked five and struck out six in going the distance.
The Pioneers struck for two runs in the first. Infinity Laufou hit a ground rule double to left with one out and advanced to third on a ground out by Kristin Smith. Dakota Edwards drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners, and Courtney Terrazas cleared the bases with a double into the right-center alley.
Anderson retired the side in order in the second, fourth and fifth innings. She was a victim of bad luck in the third as Antelope Valley took a 3-0 lead. Shayla Young led off with a routine fly ball that the left fielder dropped. Young ended up on second due to the error, and quickly advanced to third on Laufou's foul out to right. Smith followed with a single to right as Young plated the unearned run.
The Pioneers scored their final run in the sixth thanks to another VU error. Laufou reached on a leadoff grounder that was misplayed by the VU third baseman. She moved up a base on a ground out, and scored on a single up the middle by Terrazas.
Antelope Valley committed four errors in the game, but the Lions could not capitalize. The Lions had runners on first and third with two outs in the fourth thanks to consecutive errors by the Pioneer infielders. But pitcher Jada Solar got Morales to ground out to end the inning.
The Lions tried to mount a rally in the seventh as singles by Ashley Klopfenstein and Morales put two runners aboard with one out. However, Bolar got a pair of groundouts to end the game.
Solar scattered four hits and did walk a batter in the complete game shutout. She also struck out seven.
Game 2 – Lion ace Brianna Williams started and limited the damage to one run in the first following a slow start.
Young singled and stole second, and moved to third on a groundout by Lindsey Allie. Jullia Dorado smacked a single into center to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers applied more pressure as an error by the VU second baseman allowed Edwards to reach first and Dorado to scamper to third, but Williams shut the door on a strikeout and fielder's choice.
The Lions didn't mess around in the bottom of the first, turning four hits into a four-run inning. Klopfenstein and Mackenzie Hoffman delivered consecutive RBI hits to put the Lions up 2-1. A pair of Pioneer miscues outfitted the Lions with two more runs as the shortstop and second baseman botched VU ground balls.
Antelope Valley halved the deficit with a run in the third. Allie and Dorado reached on a single and an error, respectively. A groundout advanced both runners up a base, and Terrazas followed with a sacrifice fly to enter that scored Allie for an unearned run.
The Lions punched back with two runs in both the fourth and fifth to expand the lead to 8-2.
In the fourth, the Blue and Gold loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch. With two outs, Morales slammed a single into center that scored both Klopfenstein and Colenzo.
It was Colenzo's turn to drive home a pair of runs in her final at-bat at VU Softball Field as she came to the plate in the fifth. Noble and Aeri Corral had singled and walked – and after the next two Lions were retired – Colenzo raked a triple into center field to score both runners.
Mari Ipatzi threw two scoreless innings of relief, retiring six of the seven Pioneer hitters she faced. However, VU reliever Mia Portillo ran into some trouble in the sixth as Antelope Valley plated three runs. Portillo struggled with her control, hitting two batters and walking two more. The Pioneers scored on two of those free passes, and Allie's fielder's choice grounder plated a third as the VU lead was cut to 8-5.
LeeAnne Miranda came in and Allie and Dorado on consecutive groundouts to extinguish the rally. She allowed a one-out single in the seventh, but was otherwise effective in throwing up a zero.
VU added an insurance run in the sixth as three straight singles by Morales, Marissa Gurrola and Noble juiced the bases, allowing Noni Chaves to capitalize with an RBI base hit to put VU up 9-5.
Eight of the nine VU starters had at least one hit, with Colenzo finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI in her final home appearance.
Ipatzi got the win to improve to 4-3 on the season. Alyssa Bryant pitched six innings for the Pioneers, yielding all 14 hits and nine runs (seven earned). She fell to 2-5 on the season.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions hopefully got some offensive momentum going heading into the GSAC Tournament.
What Was Said?: "Emmy, we feel honored to have been able to see you through to your senior year," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners. "Your road has not been an easy one. You have faced your fair share of adversity from coming back from your knee injury to the general highs and lows of the game. Karly, we are very grateful you decided to come back for your fifth year. You knew your time here wasn't done and you had just a bit more to give."
What's Next?: Vanguard, the No. 4 seed, meets top-seeded Hope International in the opening game of the GSAC Tournament on Monday, May 1. First pitch will be at noon.
