IRVINE, Calif. -- The 2023 Golden State Athletic Conference Softball Tournament continued for the Vanguard Lions and the team squared off in a tilt against Arizona Christian today.  Compared to yesterday's 1-0 win, Tuesday's action saw both sides score three runs in one inning and leave it tied at 3-3 entering the seventh.  But similarly to yesterday, the Blue and Gold provided the clutch moment, as Mackenzie Hofmann brought in the winning run via a sacrifice fly to give Vanguard a 4-3 victory.  The Lions go to 25-27 overall and ACU drops to 34-16.
 
What Happened?  The rematch between Savannah Smith and Brianna Williams saw both pitchers throw clean innings in the first.  Yet defense turned quickly into offense, as Bianca Morales slapped a single to shortstop to open the top of the second.  Tiffany Pope bunted her to second and a single by Hofmann put runners at the corners.  Hofmann then stole second and Emma Noble took a walk to load up the bases with one out in the period.  Marissa Gurrola was the next hitter in line and she lashed a single up the middle to score Morales to punch Vanugard ahead 1-0.  Two batters later and with two outs, Ashley Klopfenstein once more showed her mettle by smoking a single down the left-field line that brought home Hofmann and Noble, as the Lions knocked Smith out of the contest.  Trinity Lawson finished off the frame without surrendering another run but VU led 3-0 through two.
 
However, the Firestorm rocketed back with three runs in the bottom of the third.  A single, double, and a triple helped to level the score at 3-3, though Williams stranded a runner at third with the final out to keep it a tied ball game. 
 
Noble and then Gurrola each picked up singles to start the top of the fourth and a bunt got them to second and third, but Lawson would keep VU from scoring in the inning.  ACU threatened to jump ahead in the bottom of the fifth, as a pair of singles got runners to second and third.  However, Williams got a ground out to end the danger, and with neither side scoring in the sixth, the Lions entered the seventh tied for the second-straight game.
 
Kaylie Williams opened the frame by taking a walk and LeeAnne Miranda came on to run for her.  With one out, Morales singled to left, bumping Miranda to second.  Pope then slapped another single to load up the bases and up stepped Hofmann to the plate.  She launched a ball high to left, and although it was caught, Miranda tagged up and scored to put the Lions up 4-3.  Lawson got the next hitter to ground out and Brianna Williams jogged to the circle with a 4-3 lead.
 
The VU starter got two strikeouts to open the home half of the seventh but the Firestorm then got a single.  Undeterred, Williams got the next ACU hitter to pop out, as the Lions claimed their second win in the tournament 4-3.
 
The Lions scored four runs on 10 hits, leaving 10 on base.  ACU scored three runs on six hits and left six runners aboard.  Brianna Williams goes to 15-10 on the year, as she fanned five and walked one in the complete-game effort.  Lawson falls to 11-5 and ACU recorded only two strikeouts all game, with each pitcher collecting one.
 
Morales tied her season-high of three hits in a game (3-for-4), the third time she has accomplished that this season.  Gurrola was 2-for-3 and five other Lions had one hit.  Klopfenstein led the team with two RBI.
 
What was Said?  "I'm very proud of our entire team.  We showed a lot of fight and trust in each other today," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners."