ENCINITAS, Calif. -- The bats powered up in a huge way for Vanguard softball Wednesday, as the Lions swept the University of Saint Katherine Firebirds. VU won game one 16-6, tying for the fourth-most runs scored in a single game. In addition, the team potentially set a single-game record for most hits in a game (21) and easily established a new benchmark of seven home runs in one contest. While USK put more pressure on the Blue and Gold in game two, the Lions scored five runs over the final three frames to win 7-4. Vanguard improves to 26-6 overall and the Firebirds fall to 5-20.
What Happened? It was a festival of runs in the opening game and VU got on the board in the first, as
Kamryn Walker knocked a one-out single. She stole second and was then batted home by
Adriana Portillo, whose single through the right side of the infield put the squad up 1-0.
Brianna Williams gave up a leadoff home run to USK, which marked the first of many balls that left the yard, though Williams benefited from most of them coming off of VU bats.
The top of the second was fantastic for the Blue and Gold.
Bianca Morales led off with a double and two flyouts got her around to score to put VU up 2-1.
Aeri Corral then singled, bringing up
Amarah Farley. The VU left fielder launched a home run over the center-field fence to send the Lions ahead 4-1. Amazingly, both Walker and
Noni Chaves followed Farley's example and blasted solo home runs to propel VU to a 6-1 advantage. The home run for Chaves was the first in her career.
If three home runs in a row were special, the Lions then tagged on five more runs in the top of the third. After a Morales walk,
Mia Hernandez clobbered a home run and
Ashley Klopfenstein made it two moon shots in a row, as her solo shot put the Vanguard lead at 9-1. The Lions then got doubles from Corral, Walker, and Portillo to leave the frame ahead 11-1.
Williams shut down the Firebirds after her mistake in the first and she got two strikeouts over three innings of work. USK saved themselves from a mercy rule defeat in the bottom of the fifth, as the team put up four runs against
LeeAnne Miranda. But the lead would never be troubled.
The Lions reached for history in response, as
Mackenzie Hofmann scored on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to make it 12-5 in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh,
Emma Noble was scared of missing the home run party, so she dilled one over the fence in center to make it 13-5.
Andrea Connor followed with a single and with two outs,
Gaby Ramirez tattooed her first collegiate home run to give the Lions seven for the day and a 15-5 advantage.
Marissa Gurrola collected a single and a double by
Megan Ireland scored Gurrola to make it 16-5. The Firebirds scored once in the bottom half, but that was it, as VU won 16-6.
The Lions scored 16 runs on 21 hits, had one error, and left seven runners on base. USK had six runs on 10 hits and six players left on the base paths. Miranda got the win to go to 2-1 on the season. Walker went 3-for-3, as did Portillo. Seven VU players had two RBI. 16 RBI by the team in the game checks in as second-best in program history, with 17 being the record. Five doubles is tied for the most in a single game (four other times), and the squad also upended the single-game high for total bases in a contest with 47. It is the most runs scored since the 13 tallies against OUAZ on the road last year and VU last scored 16 on February 29, 2020, at San Diego Christian. VU hit 17 at Antelope Valley two seasons ago on February 25. 19 runs is the program-high, set at Simpson on February 26, 2009.
Game 2
While it was not the offensive sensation that game one was, VU still had enough pop left to make a comeback in game two. Farley reached on an error to lead off the new ball game, and she then stole second and got to third on a past ball. Walker picked up an RBI on a ground out to first, putting Vanguard ahead 1-0.
It was almost rinse, wash, and repeat in the top of the third, as an error by the USK left fielder let Farley reach again. She then stole second and Walker accumulated another RBI, as she slotted in a single to center to make it 2-0.
Vanessa Robles threw well through the first three innings, but things went a little sour in the bottom of the fourth, as USK loaded up the bases and picked up runs on two fielder's choices and a single to swing into a 3-2 lead.
But the Blue and Gold quickly put up three runs in the top of the fifth to swipe the lead away from the hosts.
Adrianna Natividad was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Corral got her to second on a ground out. A single for Farley to left field brought Natividad home to tie the contest, and Walker followed that up with a double. Hernandez took a walk to load up the bases and a sacrifice fly by Portillo made it 4-3 for VU. Chaves was able to bring home Walker on a double to left field to put the edge at 5-3.
The Firebirds loaded up the bases in the bottom of the sixth and a single pulled USK to within one at 5-4, but Robles got a ground out to end the threat. The offense then put the lead out of reach in the top of the seventh.
Walker took a one-out base on balls and then stole second. Hernandez jumped on the next pitch, as she bombed her second home run of the twin bill over the fence in left to put the advantage at 7-4.
Mari Ipatzi got two outs in the bottom of the seventh but then allowed Saint Katherine to load up the bases. Despite the high-risk situation, the sophomore got the next batter to hit a liner that was right at Walker in the hole on the left side, and she made the catch to secure a 7-4 Vanguard victory.
The Lions scored seven runs on seven hits, had two errors, and left five runners aboard. USK had four runs on 10 hits, two errors, and 11 runners left on base. Robles improves to 7-1 and got two strikeouts in the game. Ipatzi got her third save. Walker went 2-for-3 and tied with Hernandez for a team-high two RBI.
What's Next? The Lions come home for another doubleheader against La Sierra on Friday starting at noon.
