COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball broke out the brooms again on Friday afternoon as the squad completed a season sweep of La Sierra University.  The Lions won 5-1 and 9-5 to improve to 28-6 overall, dropping LSU to 4-19.  Amarah Farley had a great day from the plate, going 5-for-7 with three RBI.  The Lions had 23 hits across both games and Brianna Williams and LeeAnne Miranda combined for 15 strikeouts to each nab victories from the circle.  The wins give VU a seven-game winning streak, which is the second stretch of five or more wins this campaign.
 
 
What Happened?  Farley led off the bottom of the first with a single and stole second, the first of three swipes of the day.  While the Lions were unable to bring her home, the Blue and Gold got the first run of the day in the bottom of the third.
 
Ashley Klopfenstein slapped a ball to the right-center field fence for a double to lead off the frame and Farley drove her home with an RBI single to center field.  Farley then stole second and got to third on a ground out.  That brought Adriana Portillo to the plate, and she lined a ball that thudded off the glove of the LSU third baseman.  The shortstop picked it up behind her and tried to throw Farley out at the plate, but the Lion slid under the tag to score to make it 2-0.
 
VU put another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as the Lions loaded the bases.  With one out, Noni Chaves hit a long fly ball to left-center field, which was caught, and Farley tagged and scored.  Unfortunately, the Lions then crashed out of the inning, as Walker got called out on the play for leaving second base before the ball was caught.
 
LSU used a Vanguard error and a double to score one in the top of the sixth, but the Lions answered in the bottom half.  Bianca Morales started things off with a bouncing double down the left-field line and Megan Ireland lashed a single to left to put runners at the corners.  After Ireland stole second, Klopfenstein brought in Morales with a sacrifice fly to center, putting VU up 4-1.  Farley then lanced a double to the left-field fence to cash in Ireland and increase the lead to 5-1.
 
The defense and Brianna Williams did the rest, as the VU starter fanned 10 hitters over seven innings of work, only giving up two hits to LSU.  The win pushes Williams to 12-3 on the season.  The defense had one error but other than that, the Lions were scientific in getting the 5-1.  The Lions scored five runs on 10 hits and left six runners on base.  LSU had one error and two runners left on base. 
 
Farley went 4-for-4, had two stolen bases, and recorded two RBI to lead VU, with Morales going 3-for-3 in support.
 
Game 2
Miranda got the Lions going with a flashy start from the circle, as she struck out three of the first four hitters she faced.  The Lions were equally bright in getting on the scoreboard, as VU bagged two runs in the bottom of the first.  Farley reached on a miscue by the LSU third baseman to open the inning, and she then stole second.  Walker attempted a sacrifice bunt, but she beat the throw to first to put runners at the corners.  Noni Chaves then attempted the same thing and ended with the same result, as Chaves beat the throw to first, Farley came home to score, and Walker raced to third.  Marissa Gurrola then grounded out to the first baseman, but Walker was able to run home on the play to put VU up 2-0.
 
The bottom of the second saw Emma Noble hit a one-out single and she swiped second to get into scoring position.  A throwing error allowed Gaby Ramirez to reach first base safely and with two on and one out, a Farley ground out pushed the duo to second and third.  A wild pitch allowed Noble to score and a pitch later, Walker lined a single to right to bring Ramirez home to put the lead at 4-0.  Chaves dropped a single down in left field and the LSU defender had the ball hit her chest and take an extra two bounces, allowing Chaves to end up on second and Walker to reach third.  Morales provided another clutch hit, as her single to center drove both Lions across the plate to extend the advantage to 6-0.
 
Another two-out rally started with a Ramirez single, and Farley brought her around by mashing a double to the left-center fence to make it 7-0.  Miranda continued to pitch effectively, but she got off the rails a little bit in the top of the fifth.  La Sierra used four singles and a couple of sacrifice hits to put five runs on the board, as the visitors loaded and cleared the bases to cut the gap to 7-5.
 
But the offense put the contest out of reach in the bottom of the sixth.  Kaylee DeMaio singled to start the frame and she scored on a deep right-center field triple by Aeri Corral to put the edge at 8-5.  Morales hit a sacrifice fly to bring Corral home, as VU took a 9-5 lead into the top of the seventh.  Miranda set the Golden Eagles down in order, as the Lions secured the sweep.
 
The Lions tallied nine runs on 13 hits and left six runners aboard.  LSU had five runs on eight hits, three errors, and five runners left on base.  Miranda improves to 3-1 on the year and got five Ks while walking three batters.  Noble, Gurrola, Chaves, and Walker had two hits apiece, while Morales led VU with three RBI.
 
Why is it Important?  With the four wins against La Sierra, VU may have concluded the all-time series at 30-4 against the Golden Eagles.  In conference action, Jessup swept Arizona Christian to stay tucked behind VU in the standings.
 
What's Next?  The Lions will host Hope International tomorrow for a big clash of Golden State Athletic Conference title hopefuls.  While some light rain is expected, the games are still slated for a noon start