GLENDALE, Ariz. – Brianna Williams tossed a three-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory over Embry-Riddle to highlight a season-opening split in Arizona on Thursday. The Lions lost the opener, 4-3, against Carroll College after a late comeback came up just short.

Noni Chaves finished 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI on the afternoon. Mia Hernandez went 3-for-6 and hit her first homer as a Lion. Amarah Farley, who played for Vanguard as a freshman before transferring to Saint Katherine for her sophomore campaign, made a triumphant return to the Blue and Gold with three hits and a pair of RBI. 

The Lions (1-1) continue action with a pair of games on Friday.
 

Game 1

Carroll College 4, Vanguard 3

LeeAnne Miranda took the ball in the circle and got the hard luck loss after giving up three unearned runs in 3.0 innings of work. 

The Fighting Saints struck for three runs in the bottom of the third after Miranda had runners on the corners with two outs. She got Alyssa Lybbert to hit a grounder to shortstop, but a throwing error enabled Kenna Thomas to score for a 1-0 lead. After Lybbert advanced to second on a wild pitch, Kaitlynn Ayers delivered a two-RBI double to left center that extended Carroll's lead to 3-0.

Mari Ipatzi came on in relief to begin the fourth. Morgan Sunchild greeted her with a double to left and Kati Slater sacrificed pinch runner Libby Evans to third. With one out, pinch hitter Carlee Smith lifted a sac fly to right to give the Fighting Saints a 4-0 lead.

The Lions produced six hits through the first four innings off Carroll starter Kennedy Venner, but were unable to dent the scoreboard. Venner then retired the Lions in order in the fifth and looked to be in cruise control.

However, the Blue and Gold awoke on offense in the sixth. The Lions had consecutive singles from Carli Row and Tiffany Pope – the two advancing a base following Mackenzie Hofmann's fly out to right. Chaves then delivered a single to center that plated both runners. With Carroll's lead cut in half, Venner escaped further trouble after getting a groundout from pinch hitter Williams to end the threat.

Ipatzi and Mia Portillo tossed zeroes in the fifth and sixth to give the Lions a chance to complete the comeback in the seventh.

Venner got the first two outs on a pop out and fly out, but Hernandez blasted a solo shot to right center to narrow VU's deficit to 4-3. However, Venner earned the complete game victory, getting her fourth strikeout to end the contest. She allowed 11 hits and three runs, but did not walk a batter.
 

Game 2

Vanguard 5, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 0

Williams was electric in her season debut, shutting down the Eagles on three hits, no walks and four strikeouts. 

The junior posted her 41st career win and 11th shutout as the Eagles managed lone singles in the first, fourth and fifth innings.

Williams retired nine straight early on – and induced Jaden Espinoza into an inning-ending double play in the fifth following a one-out single from Emma Almodoba.

The right-hander set down the side in the sixth and seventh to blank ERAU.

Williams got all the support she needed as the Lions scratched out a run in the first. With one out, Chaves ran out an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop.

Bianca Morales promptly delivered an RBI single to center as Chaves scampered home for the 1-0 lead. 

VU exploded for four runs in the fourth – the big blow a two-RBI single to center by Farley. Hofmann and freshman Kamryn Walker also produced RBI singles in the inning.

Why Is It Important?: The Lion bats collected 11 hits in each game with nine different players accounting for those hits across the two games.

What Was Said?: "We got our first game jitters out of the way," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners. "I'm happy with the way our team bounced back after the tough loss in game one. Our offense came alive, our defense was top notch and Bri threw a great shutout!"

What's Next?: VU begins action on Friday against No. 13 College of Idaho at 9:00 a.m. The Lions then get a rematch against Carroll College with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.