COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball ended the first home day of Golden State Athletic Conference action Friday with a win and a loss against the Menlo Oaks. MC kept VU off the board in game one for a 3-0 win before the two sides put up 15 combined runs in game two. Ahead 7-2, the Lions witnessed the Oaks score five runs in the top of the seventh to level the score at 7-7. But the Oaks never took the lead and VU got a walk-off single by
Lilyana Roth to claim the contest 8-7. VU goes to 22-6 overall and 5-1 in GSAC play, with Menlo going to 12-14, 1-3.
What Happened? Game 1
Brianna Williams was the Vanguard starter in the opening game and though she gave up a leadoff hit in the top of the first, set the rest of the Oaks down in order . With one out in the bottom half of the frame,
Kamryn Walker came to the plate and she uncorked a deep shot into the right-field corner. Reaching third, Walker was given the green light to go home, but the throw to the plate just beat her to there to deny the Lions the opening run of the day.
Menlo scored in the top of the second, as the visitors used a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a double to jump ahead 1-0.
Brianna Gonzalez of Menlo and Williams locked things down from the circle after that, as both pitchers kept the bats off the board through the sixth frame.
Menlo then leaped ahead 3-0 in the top of the seventh, using three hits and a Vanguard error to put some insurance on the board.
Adriana Portillo singled in the bottom of the seventh, but the Lions went down in order after, as Menlo secured a 3-0 decision.
The Oaks scored three runs on six hits and stranded four runners on base. The Lions had five hits, one error, and five runners left on base. Williams struck out six batters and falls to 9-3. Portillo went 2-for-3 in the opening game to lead VU.
Game 2
Vanessa Robles got the nod in game two and she saw Menlo get a leadoff hit as well, but VU recorded three-straight outs to keep the Oaks from scoring. The Blue and Gold started the bottom of the first with
Amarah Farley at the plate, who launched a deep shot into the right-field corner for a triple. Walker brought her home with a sacrifice fly, as the Lions left the frame up 1-0.
Menlo used three singles in the top of the third to knot up the score at 1-1 before the Oaks took the lead in the top of the fourth. Two stolen bases and a single put the MC ahead 2-1, but the Blue and Gold rocketed ahead in the bottom of the fifth.
Farley started the barrage with a single and
Noni Chaves propelled a ball over the left fielder's head for a double to bring Farley home and tie the contest. After Portillo singled to put runners at the corners, a past ball allowed Chaves to score to put Vanguard ahead 3-2.
Bianca Morales took a walk and
Mackenzie Hofmann then clobbered the second triple of the inning into the right-center alley to notch two RBI, as the Lions ended the fifth ahead 6-2.
VU made it a 7-2 lead in the home half of the sixth inning, with Farley taking a leadoff walk. Walker singled to put runners at first and second and the pair advanced a base on a dropped third strike. Portillo then lined a single to right to bring Farley home and put the lead at five runs.
But that would not be enough of a gap, as the Oaks strung together a five-run inning to tie things at 7-7. MC loaded the bases twice in the frame and even Williams, who came on in relief of Robles, could not stem the tide. Two VU errors did not help matters, but a pop fly in the infield turned into a much-needed third out.
Fortunately, the Lions did not take a long time to flip dismay into joy.
Ashley Klopfenstein led off the frame for the Lions and she launched a shot to the right-field gap. A bobble by the MC center fielder as she tried to pick the ball up allowed Klopfenstein to turn a stand-up double into a triple, putting VU in a great position to win. Roth came to the dish with one out and slapped a single right past second base to let Klopfenstein trot home for the walk-off 8-7 victory.
Vanguard scored eight runs on 12 hits, had three errors, and left eight runners on the base paths. Menlo scored seven runs on 15 hits, had one error, and left 11 runners aboard. Robles had one strikeout in her 6.2 innings of work, with Williams picking up the win to go to 10-3 on the season. Hofmann paced VU with two RBI and she, Roth, and Portillo went 2-for-4. Farley had a 2-2 game from the plate and took two walks. Morales accepted three walks in the game and scored twice.
Why is it Important? The Lions are now 30-9 all-time against Menlo. Jessup swept Hope International on Friday, setting up Saturday's clash as a battle for the top of the standings.
What's Next? VU and Jessup will get at it at noon tomorrow on the VU Softball Field.
