ASHLAND, Ore. -- The Vanguard softball team has again started to climb the ladder in another bracket, as the team waded into the NAIA Softball World Series Opening Round Monday. VU faced the hosting and top-seeded Raiders of Southern Oregon in the opening contest and the two sides each held leads in the game, but five runs in the top of the fifth propelled the Lions to an 8-4 victory.
Brianna Williams collected the win and both
Noni Chaves and
Kaylie Williams led the squad with two RBI. The Lions go to 27-28 overall and will take on the Eagles of Reinhardt (Ga.) tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. SOU falls to 42-12.
What Happened? Brianna Williams and Katie Machado each allowed a hit in the first inning but did not let the runner get beyond first base. With no hits in the second and no real threats to score in the third, the offensive action got going in the fourth.
Chaves started the frame with a single and
Ashley Klopfenstein followed with one of her own.
Bianca Morales then smacked a single to right to bring Chaves home, with Klopfenstein getting to third.
Mackenzie Hofmann put VU up 2-0 by hitting a sac fly but Morales was then gunned out trying to go to third on the play by the SOU catcher, who had recovered quickly from the attempt to get Klopfenstein out at home.
The Raiders then struck for three runs, as the hosts loaded the bases and brought two runs home on a double, cashing in the third on a ground out to lead 3-2.
The Blue and Gold would not trail for long though, as Vanguard chucked a five-spot on the board in the top of the fifth. With
Karly Colenzo reaching on a fielder's choice,
Marissa Gurrola singled up the middle to put runners on first and second on with one out.
Megan Ireland pinch-ran for Colenzo and
Tiffany Pope tattooed an opposite-field double to right, tying the game at 3-3. Chaves then unloaded on a pitch and sent the ball to the fence, scoring Gurrola and Pope on the eventual triple, as VU hopped ahead 5-3. A pitch then hit Klopfenstein and
Kaylie Williams brought both VU runners home on double to right-center field to push the advantage to 7-3.
The Raiders worked a leadoff bunt single into a run in the home half of the fifth, but
Brianna Williams limited the attack to just one run.
LeeAnne Miranda replaced her in the bottom of the sixth and even though SOU got a leadoff single, a fly out and a double play got Miranda out of the inning.
The Lions worked one final run across the plate in the top of the seventh.
Kaylie Williams lifted a single to right and a Hofmann base knock got her to third. With runners on the corners,
Emma Noble smoked a single to center to put the Lions ahead 8-4. That would be enough for Miranda. She got two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh but then walked a hitter. Riley Donovan, the NAIA leader in home runs, stepped to the plate, but Miranda got her to fly out to center to end the game.
VU scored eight runs on 14 hits and left six runners on base. SOU had four runs on nine hits and stranded four runners on base.
Brianna Williams had two strikeouts and improves to 16-11 on the season. Miranda entered the game in a save situation and collects her and the team's first save of the year. Machado drops to 18-4.
Kaylie Williams and Gurrola paced the lineup with three hits apiece.
What was Said? "We feel great, and this puts us in a really good spot for the rest of this tournament," said Head Coach
Sydney Lahners. "Our team played great today and our bats were on fire. Whenever we score eight runs in a game, it is a great day. We are going to keep playing like this tomorrow."
Why is it Important? The Lions beat SOU for the second time this year and it is the first time VU has scored more than five runs against the Raiders in five games, with the last time being a 5-4 win last year at home to open a doubleheader.
What's Next? First pitch for the game between VU and Reinhardt is set for 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
