COSTA MESA -- A Sunday softball doubleheader between the Lions of Vanguard and the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills saw the Toros take both games.  The Lions were close to the Toros in game one but could not overcome a 2-0 score.  VU tied the second game at 2-2 later in the day, but some errors spoiled the rally as the Lions fell 7-4.  VU dropped to 7-16 and the Toros improved to 14-13.
 
What Happened?  Brianna Williams gave up two hits over four innings, but the Vanguard ace did not let any batters reach third base.  CSUDH got the leadoff runner on in the top of the fifth and the visitors bunted her to second.  A two-out walk put two aboard and a single up the middle inched the Toros out to a 1-0 lead, but Williams got a groundout to keep it at a one-run gap.
 
Dominguez Hills used two pitchers through five innings and only an Adrianna Natividad hit was registered by the Blue and Gold.  Mari Ipatzi took over for Williams in the top of the sixth and though she got two quick outs, the Toros got a double and a walk to threaten again.  However, Aeri Corral made a diving catch to secure the third out and cancel the danger. 
 
Preslee Brower put a single down the first-base line in the bottom of the sixth with one out that resulted in CSUDH putting in their third pitcher of the contest.  Kamryn Walker then blasted a double to the left-field fence but Brower, who was waved home, got thrown out at the plate.  As she was being tagged out, Walker ran to third, but the catcher for the Toros threw her out because Walker's hand came off the base on her slide, bringing the inning to a close.
 
A couple of errors allowed Dominguez Hills to make it 2-0, but a lineout caught by Megan Ireland stranded a Toro at third.  However, the Lions could not get anything on the board in the bottom of the seventh, as CSUDH took game one 2-1.
 
CSUDH scored two runs on four hits and left seven runners on base.  VU had three hits, three errors, and one runner stranded on base.  Williams recorded two strikeouts on 80 pitches and fell to 3-7.
 
 
 
CSUDH 7 VU 4  Vanguard struck for the opening run in the bottom of the first as Walker belted a ball to right field.  The Toro defender could not glove it, with the error allowing Walker to get to third.  A single back up the middle from Amarah Farley brought her home to give Mia Iacomini a 1-0 lead.
 
The sophomore starter got through two innings without giving up any hits but a pair of walks and a double for the Toros put the visitors ahead 2-1 in the top of the third.  Vanguard got singles from Walker and Farley in the bottom of the third, but the Toros turned two to retire the side.
 
Summer Stephens took over in the top of the fourth and got a strikeout while setting the Toros down in order.  Though Dominguez Hills got two batters aboard in the top of the fifth, Stephens got a groundout to retire the side and then retired the side in the top of the sixth.
 
A fielding error by the CSUDH second baseman allowed Walker to reach first to start the bottom of the sixth and Farley reached on a bunt single to put two on.  Lilyana Roth dropped a sacrifice bunt and Portillo recorded a sacrifice fly to bring home Walker and get Farley to third.  Tiffany Pope was then hit by a pitch and Kaylee DeMaio clobbered a deep shot to left, but the Toro left fielder made a high-quality catch over her shoulder to deny VU a go-ahead hit.
 
Tied at 2-2, three VU errors and five CSUDH hits allowed the Toros to gain a 7-2 advantage.  The Lions pulled back two in the bottom of the seventh, with Sophia Sanchez taking a leadoff walk.  Andrea Connor punched a single through the infield and a grounder put runners at first and third.  Walker then launched a double to the left-center fence to bring the score to 7-3 and a sacrifice fly by Farley made it 7-4.  But the Toros got the final out to secure the sweep.
 
CSUDH had seven runs on six hits, two errors, and left six runners on base.  VU scored four runs on seven hits, committed four errors, and left five runners on the base paths.  Walker went 3-for-4 and Farley went 3-for-3 to pace the lineup.  Stephens took the loss and fell to 1-2, though she had two Ks.  Iacomini went three innings and Vanessa Robles closed out the seventh.
 
 
What's Next?  The Lions finish the Pacific West Conference series with Biola tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.