Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 COSTA MESA -- The Vanguard softball team concluded its pre-Easter slate with a doubleheader against Park University Gilbert.  The Buccaneers had the edge on VU in terms of overall record entering the day but the Lions used another great pitching performance by Brianna Williams to snag game one 2-0.  However, the Buccaneers took advantage of a couple of miscues by the Blue and Gold in game two to make it a split on the day, winning 8-5.  Park will go to 28-8 overall and VU goes to 17-17

What Happened?  After throwing a no-hitter on Saturday, Williams was once more locked in on Monday.  The VU ace lived up to that charge by striking out eight hitters and giving up only two walks in seven innings, throwing 83 pitches in the process.  Park only got two singles and never threatened to score, as Williams goes to 10-6 overall and now has back-to-back shutouts in the bag.
The offense scored two runs on seven hits, with the first tally coming in the bottom of the third.  Mackenzie Hofmann took a walk and she was bunted to second.  Emma Noble singled on a bloop shot to left field and Hofmann threw on the brakes at third.  Kaylie Williams remained dialed in at the dish, smacking a single to right to score Hofmann.  
The second run came in the bottom of the fourth, as Tiffany Pope took a leadoff walk.  She got to second on a ground out and Andrea Connor followed that up with a blistering double to the right-field gap, with Pope scoring.  While Connor was thrown out trying to make it to third on the play, the Lions had a lead and Brianna Williams did not give up a hit after the top of the fourth to secure the win.

The second contest started on a different tack, as both sides scored in the first.  Mia Portillo surrendered a leadoff walk and the runner stole second, coming home on a single a batter later.  Getting out of the frame down 1-0, VU backed up their pitcher immediately.  Kaylie Williams led off with a double down the left-field line and she would be brought home by a Hofmann double to left two batters later to knot the game at 1-1.  Both sides were held scoreless in the second but a pair of triples allowed the Buccaneers to saunter ahead 2-1.  
The Lions fired a volley in reply, tagging on two runs in the bottom half of the frame.  An error by the Park shortstop allowed Williams to reach first safely.  Karly Colenzo then hit a slow roller to short and the Buccaneers tried to get Williams out at second but were late, putting both Lions aboard.  Hofmann did not shiver at the plate and lanced her second double of the game to the left-center gap, bringing both runners home to put VU ahead 3-2.
With some wind in the sails, VU pegged on another run in the bottom of the fourth, as a leadoff single by Bianca Morales got things going.  She would get to third and Williams poked a single back up the middle to make it 4-2.
Portillo had been sailing along in calm waters but Park loaded up the bases to start the fifth inning and LeeAnne Miranda was asked to navigate the Blue and Gold out of the danger.  Unfortunately, the hit parade continued as two more singles cashed in three runs to put the Buccaneers ahead 5-4.
Miranda got out of the inning from there and each side scored once in the sixth, as Williams smacked another single to score Noni Chaves to keep VU in the running down 6-5.
The Buccaneers got a double and a single to put two more runs on the board in the top of the seventh though, even though the added insurance was not needed.  VU went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, as Park claimed an 8-5 victory.
The Lions scored five runs on eight hits, had one error, and left six runners left on base.  The Buccaneers scored eight runs on 12 hits, committed three errors, and left seven runners aboard.  Abril Nerey came on for the save and Mariah Martinez struck out six batters to take the win.  Portillo took the loss, dropping to 1-1, with her and Miranda each fanning three hitters.  Williams picked up three hits in four at-bats, netting two RBI and going 6-for-7 for the doubleheader.  Hoffman went 2-for-4 and had the other three RBI.  



What's Next?  Vanguard travel to Lancaster to take on the Pioneers of Antelope Valley on April 12 at noon.