IRVINE, Calif. – Vanguard softball swept a doubleheader by scores of 4-1 and 6-4 over Westcliff on Thursday at the Orange County Great Park.
The Lions produced 20 hits over the two contests, with Amarah Farley and Kamryn Walker wearing out Warrior pitching. The top two players in the VU order combined to go 8-for-10 with seven runs scored and five RBI during the twinbill.
Walker and Mackenzie Hofmann both had three-hit performances in game two.
In all, 23 players saw playing time. Noni Chaves had a hit in each game and leads the Lions with a .556 (10-for-18) average through eight games.
Brianna Williams continued her dominance in the circle, picking up her fourth win and second save in the young season. The right-hander tossed a complete game in game one and mopped up in game two, shutting down the Warrior bats as she allowed just four hits and struck out 13 over nine innings on the day.
Williams improved to 4-0, while Mari Ipatzi got the win in game two after throwing 2.2 innings of relief.
The Lions have won seven straight games, their longest winning streak since 2022. VU's 7-1 start is the program's best since beginning the 2022 season 8-0.
Westcliff fell to 3-7 on the season.
What Happened?
Vanguard 4, Westcliff 1
Williams, who has allowed just one run over the last 21.0 innings, controlled the game from the outset as she struck out four of the first six Warrior hitters. Westcliff managed to get a runner into scoring position just twice – in the third and sixth innings – and Williams had at least one strikeout in all but one inning.
The junior fanned two Warriors in five of the seven innings, and struck out double-digit batters for the fifth time in her career. She allowed a two-out double to Airilin Ramirez and an RBI single to Siana San Vicente for Westcliff's only run in the sixth.
Williams retired 21 of the 27 batters she faced, giving up three hits, one walk and two hit batters over the course of her 105-pitch outing.
The Lions jumped on Warrior starter Emily Rosas in the first thanks to a fielding error by the right fielder that allowed Farley to reach third to start the game. Walker capitalized with an RBI single to left for a 1-0 VU lead.
Rosas kept the Lion bats in check until the fifth. Lilyana Roth roped a double to right center with one out, and Farley crushed a two-run shot to center to pad the Lion lead.
The Lions increased their lead to 4-1 in the seventh with their third and fourth extra base hits, getting doubles from Adriana Portillo and pinch hitter Andrea Connor. Connor's hit to the left field fence easily scored Portillo with one out.
Williams struck out two more in the seventh and got the final Warrior hitter on a comebacker to end the game.
Vanguard 6, Westcliff 4
More offense was on display in game two as the Lions chased Westcliff starter Alex Corrales after she issued three consecutive walks to Farley, Walker and Chaves in the first.
Rosas came in after pitching 5.0 innings in the opener. Tasked with keeping the Lions off the scoreboard, she got the first out, but ran into Hofmann on the next at-bat. Hofmann greeted her with a double down the left line, scoring Farley and Walker for the 2-0 VU lead.
The Warriors grabbed one run back in the bottom half off VU starter LeeAnne Miranda. Vicente and Alexyia Reyes hit consecutive singles with one out, and both runners advanced a base on a Lauren Coppla ground out. An infield single from Kassandra Ramos plated Vicente.
Miranda retired the Warriors in order in the second, but allowed the tying run to score in the third. Westcliff used a leadoff single, sac bunt and an RBI double from Reyes to knot the score at 2-2.
Ipatzi entered and restored order by getting the next two Warriors to strike out and ground out.
The Lions erupted for three runs in the fifth as a leadoff walk to Farley spelled trouble for Rosas. Farley got into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Walker cashed her in on a single to right. Walker used her speed to move from first to third on a sac bunt from Chaves, and Carli Row followed with an RBI single as the Blue and Gold went up 4-2.
Hofmann then delivered her second double of the game to bring home Row as VU led 5-2.
Ipatzi had retired six straight Warriors before allowing a pair of runs in the fifth. She encountered some bad luck as Ramirez got aboard via a one-out error, followed by a Vicente single. Vicente moved to second on the throw and suddenly the Warriors had runners at second and third. Ipatzi got the second out on a pop up, but the Warriors managed to score twice on Coppla's single to left. Farley's throw from left nailed Coppla, who tried to stretch her hit into a double.
With the Lions clinging to a 5-4 lead, they got an important insurance run in the sixth. The Warriors initially avoided damage as Megan Ireland, who got aboard on a leadoff error and moved to second on a sac bunt, was thrown out at home plate attempting to score on Farley's single.
Farley took second on the throw home, and scored easily on Walker's triple to right.
Williams entered for the Lions in relief, and shut the door on the Warriors as she retired six of the seven hitters she faced. Westcliff mustered only a two-out single in the sixth and Williams added two more strikeouts before collecting her second save of the season.
Why Is It Important?: VU is winning the close games, with four of those coming by two or less runs.
What's Next?: The Lions travel to Palmdale on Friday for a doubleheader against Antelope Valley. First pitch for game one is 2:00 p.m.
