COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball began a four-game series against Biola on Saturday, but VU could not garner a win despite being within striking distance in both games. The Lions lost game one 2-1 and the second contest 3-1 to drop to 7-14 overall and 3-6 in the Pacific West Conference. Biola improved to 17-10 overall and 10-2 in league play.
What Happened? The two teams combined for eight hits in game one and three runs, with Biola holding the edge from start to finish. The Eagles scored a run in the top of the first using a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly.
Adriana Portillo registered the first Vanguard hit in the bottom of the frame, but she did not advance from first base. BU got a couple of singles in the top of the third and scored the team's other run off a fielder's choice to lead 2-0, but the Lions made a rebuttal in the bottom half. Walker took a walk and
Amarah Farley came just two feet shy of a home run to left field, with her hit turning into a triple to cut the gap to 2-1.
Both pitchers and defenses zipped through the orders the rest of the ball game and DJ Symons completed the game for Biola and improved to 7-1 on her season, though she had zero strikeouts. BU had two runs on seven hits and left five runners on base. VU had one run, two hits and two runners left aboard.
Brianna Williams went the distance for Vanguard and fanned four on 87 pitches and dropped to 3-6.
BU 3 VU 1 The Blue and Gold struck first in the bottom of the second as the squad loaded the bases.
Tiffany Pope started it off with a single to center and then stole second.
Adrianna Natividad followed and was hit by a pitch and
Megan Ireland poked a single through the left side of the infield to put three ducks on the pond. Walker singled past a diving shortstop to spring VU to a 1-0 advantage, but unfortunately, that was all the Lions could muster in the game. However, in the moment, a one-run lead seemed fine as
LeeAnne Miranda was waltzing through the Biola lineup.
The game two starter had three strikeouts and no hits allowed after four innings in a dominant display. Biola got a lone base runner in the top of the fourth via an error, but the defense stranded her on second to keep the no-hit bid alive.
But the Eagles figured her out and got their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth with a one-out single. That lone hit signaled a change in the wind, as the runner then stole second and got to third on a wild pitch. A two-out single tied the game at 1-1 and Biola did not waste any time in the top of the sixth. The Eagles took a 3-1 using back-to-back walks and a double to deep left-center field to put the game away.
BU had three runs on three hits and left three runners on base. VU had one run, nine hits, one error, and 10 runners stranded on the base paths. Miranda struck out three on 83 pitches and fell to 1-4 on the year. Walker went 3-for-4 to pace the lineup and Ireland went 2-for-3. Farley added her second triple of the day in game two.
What's Next? Vanguard hosts CSU Dominguez Hills tomorrow for a pair of games starting at 1:00 p.m.
