COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball's two wins over Avila (Mo.) on Tuesday came in two very different fashions.  The Lions and the Eagles could not register any runs through seven innings in game one, nor could the teams decide the meeting in the eighth.  Brianna Williams and the defense kept AU off the board in the top of the ninth and an RBI single to the left-center gap by Mackenzie Hofmann gave VU a 2-1 win.  The Lions then whacked 10 runs on 10 hits over five innings to collect a 10-2 victory in game two to complete the sweep.  The Lions jump to 19-5 and the Eagles fall to 14-8.
 
 
What Happened?  It seemed like Vanguard would rue not being able to cash in a run early in the game, as the Blue and Gold left nine runners on the base paths in the contest. A triple by Kamryn Walker in the bottom of the first with one out could not be capitalized on, nor could runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second and third.
 
However, Brianna Williams was in a groove in the opening game, as she locked down the AU lineup.  The Eagles were retired in order in the first two innings and had only one real chance to score in the top of the fifth.  A leadoff single saw an Eagle get to third with two outs, but Williams struck out the next batter to end the danger.
 
Avila used some small ball to score the international tiebreaker runner in the top of the eighth, as a sacrifice bunt and a single put the Eagles up 1-0.  Williams then had some help from Gaby Ramirez, as she threw out a runner trying to steal third.  Williams got another strikeout to send the game to the bottom of the eighth and VU tied things up quickly.
 
Adriana Portillo was placed on second for VU and she was bunted to third by Mia Hernandez.  Bianca Morales hit a fly ball that was deep enough to score Portillo, and the contest went to the ninth knotted at 1-1.
 
Williams set the Eagles down in order and had another helper from Ramirez in the process.  With one out, Williams got a strikeout and the runner on second broke for third, but the arm of Ramirez was accurate again to throw her out to complete a double play.
 
In the bottom half of the frame, the VU starter was placed on second and she got bunted to third by Ashley Klopfenstein.  Hofmann then made a pinch-hit appearance and she blasted a ball to the left-field fence to easily score Williams to hand VU the 2-1 walk-off win.
 
The Lions scored two runs on six hits and AU tallied one run on five hits with one error in the contest.  Morales went 2-for-3 in the game to lead VU.  Williams fanned a season-high 12 hitters to improve to 9-2.
 
Game 2
The bats gave more than enough run support to Vanessa Robles in the second game, as the Lions tallied 10 runs on 10 hits.  Robles did fall behind in the top of the first, as a leadoff single was brought home on a throwing error.  But after getting a couple of outs to end the inning, a throwing error by the Eagles helped the Blue and Gold to take the lead in the bottom half.
 
Amarah Farley started the frame with a single and Walker came to the plate.  She bunted a dribbler down the first-base line and the AU pitcher tried to throw her out but she sent the ball all the way to the right-field corner.  That allowed both Farley and Walker to round the bases and score to put VU up 2-1.
 
Vanguard made it 3-1 in the bottom of the second, as Marissa Gurrola took a lead-off walk.  She then stole second and Emma Noble bunted her to third.  Robles helped her own cause by lining a single to left field to bring Gurrola home and increase the advantage.
 
Avila responded by using two singles to make it 3-2 in the top of the third, but that would be the final tally for the visitors on the day.  VU tagged on three runs in the bottom of the third, with Farley starting the the attack with a home run over the left-center fence to bump the lead to 4-2.  Walker then smoked a double down the left-field line and got to third on a ground out.  Hofmann came up clutch again with a single to right field to put the VU lead at 5-2 as Walker strolled home.  Gurrola followed that with a single and Noble walked to load up the bases.  Robles then hit a slow hopper to second and the AU defender tried to throw Noble out at second, but she slid in safely, as Hofmann came in to score to put the lead up to 6-2. 
 
Neither side scored in the fourth and Robles sent the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the fifth.  The Blue and Gold returned to the dish and the squad would win via the mercy rule by slapping four more runs in the bottom half.  Lilyana Roth led off with a single and Hofmann followed with a single to right to put two on with no outs.  Gurrola was up next and she hit a bouncing ball to the left side of the infield.  The AU third baseman made a hard throw to first but the second baseman, who was covering the first, dropped the ball at the last instant.  With the bases now loaded, Noble singled through the right side of the infield to make it 7-2.  A wild pitch brought Hofmann home to make it 8-2 and Robles then took a walk to juice the bases once again.  Adrianna Natividad slotted a single to right field to cash in both Noble and Gurrola to put the score at 10-2 and end the contest.
 
AU had two runs on eight hits and two errors, with VU having one error in the game.  Robles struck out two batters and goes to 6-1 on the season.  Both Farley and Hofmann had two hits and Robles and Natividad led the Lions with two RBI apiece. 
 
 
What's Next?  The Lions will make up the two rained-out games against La Sierra on Thursday at noon.