COSTA MESA -- The senior day script for Vanguard softball went to plan on Saturday, as VU concluded the regular season with a sweep of Arizona Christian.  The seven seniors all played a part in the pair of victories, with senior Mackenzie Hofmann driving in the only run of the first game in a 1-0 win.  Fellow senior Mia Portillo got help on both sides of the field to pick up the win in game two, as VU nabbed a 7-3 decision.  The Lions end the regular season with a 37-11 record overall and a 14-6 record in the Golden State Athletic Conference, placing second in the league.  ACU ends the season at 27-19, 9-11.
 
What Happened?  Brianna Williams recorded three strikeouts in the opening contest and allowed only five ACU batters to reach base in seven innings of action.  The Firestorm tested her in the top of the second, getting runners to second and third, but the starter picked up one of her strikeouts and a flyout to end the danger. 
 
She also got plenty of help from the defense over the course of the contest, highlighted by Mia Hernandez throwing out two ACU runners trying to steal second in the game.
 
Senior Noni Chaves had the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first, but VU could not advance her beyond second. Another chance for a run came thanks to Adriana Portillo, who doubled to the left-center gap to start the bottom of the fourth, but the Lions could not bring her home.
 
But with great pitching and defense, it only took one swing to decide the game in favor of Vanguard.  Hofmann, who also had a single in the bottom of the second, led off the bottom of the fifth and saw a tasty pitch early in the at-bat.  She uncorked a towering shot over the left-field fence, putting the home side up 1-0 on her third home run of the season.  Both Lilyana Roth and senior Ashley Klopfenstein followed that up with hits, but ACU shut down the rally from there.
 
Despite being stymied a few times offensively, Williams and the defense kept the Firestorm in check for the rest of the game and ACU was set down in order in the top of the seventh to secure the 1-0 victory. 
 
The Lions scored one run on eight hits, had one error, and left six runners on base.  ACU had four hits, two errors, and five runners left on the base paths.  Williams improves to 17-5 on the season and Hofmann led the Blue and Gold with two hits.  Seven other VU players had one hit.
 
Game 2
Mia Portillo had not started a game since February 23, but she held tough for seven innings in the twin bill to get her second win of the year.  Though she gave up lead-off hits in the top of the first and second, she and the defense kept ACU off the scoreboard.  But the Firestorm finally broke through in the top of the third, as the visitors used four singles in the inning to hop to a 2-0 lead. 
 
However, the Lions were eager to respond.  Senior Carli Row started the bottom of the third with a long at-bat that ended with her getting hit by a pitch.  Aeri Corral then smacked a single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second.  ACU picked up the second out of the inning, but with runners at the corners, Kamryn Walker did not disappoint.  She launched a double off the fence in left-center field, clearing the bases to tie the game at 2-2.  Chaves then slammed a ball to the center-field fence to bring Walker home and give VU a 3-2 edge.
 
Though both sides were quiet in the fourth, there was a big moment for the Lions, as senior Lauren Jaime made her collegiate debut in her final game.  Sidelined by medical issues but finally cleared to play, Jaime took a walk in the first at-bat of her career to the roar of the crowd.
 
Portillo got some help from Row in the top of the fifth, as ACU got runners to second and third with only one out.  The next hitter dropped a bunt in an attempted suicide squeeze, but the ball did not get far from the plate.  That allowed Row to drop down, pick it up, and tag the ACU runner coming home to record the second out.  Another ground out ended the threat and the offense pulled away in the bottom half.
 
Corral led off and fired a laser through the infield towards the left-center fence that turned into a double.  Amarah Farley then clobbered a triple to the right-center fence, putting VU up 4-2.  Walker followed her and skied a ball to center field, but the ACU fielder had the ball drop off her glove, allowing Farley to score.
 
Ahead 5-2, the defense did not let ACU score in the top of the sixth despite a couple of runners reaching base, with Row throwing out a runner trying to swipe second to help the cause.
 
The Lions extended the advantage by two more runs in the bottom half, as Row was again hit by a pitch and Klopfenstein took a walk to put two runners aboard.  Those two got to second and third on a ground out and Farley boomed a double to cash in the runners to put the lead at 7-2.
 
Though Arizona Christian tagged on a run in the top of the seventh, the Blue and Gold got out of the situation to conclude the sweep with a 7-3 win.
 
VU had seven runs on seven hits, one error, and five runners left on base.  ACU had three runs on 11 hits, one error, and nine runners stranded.  Portillo had one K and two walks in seven innings to go to 2-0 on the season.  Farley went 2-for-4 and led the team with three RBI.  Walker was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Corral also went 2-3 in the game. Jaime had two walks in her delayed debut.
 
Why is it Important?  The Lions go to 29-17 all-time against ACU and have won five in a row against the Firestorm.  Vanguard swept the season series, which last happened in 2019.  The sweep also proved fatal to the Firestorm, as OUAZ swept Hope International and won the tiebreaker scenarios against ACU to reach the GSAC tournament and bounce the Firestorm.
 
What was Said?  "I am so proud of our team for the way we played this entire weekend.  There is no better way to honor our seniors, and this gives us a ton of momentum going into the GSAC Tournament," said Head Coach Sydney Lahners.
 
What's Next?  The Lions start the tournament against HIU on Monday, April 29, at 3:00 p.m. at the Great Park in Irvine.