COSTA MESA -- Returning to the OC Great Park, Vanguard softball again lost the first game of the day before picking up a victory in the second, running the squad's record to 2-2.  The Blue and Gold were close to edging out Cal State University East Bay, but dropped the game 3-2.  VU then took on Western Oregon University and won 7-4.
 
CSUEB 3  VU 2
Lauren Cantwell made her initial collegiate foray with her first start against the Pioneers, and she retired the first trio of batters, which included her first strikeout.  However, a walk and a pair of singles put CSUEB ahead 1-0 in the top of the second.  Cantwell did not lose her nerve after giving up the lead and set three hitters in order in the top of the third in response.
 
The clubs exchanged runs in the fourth inning, with East Bay securing a 2-1 edge via a single and a triple.  But the Vanguard bats got to work, with Lilyana Roth opening the bottom half of the frame with a single.  Kamryn Walker dropped a sacrifice bunt to get Roth to second, and Adriana Portillo slapped a single back up the middle to make it 2-1. 
 
Yet the Pioneers got another triple to open the top of the fifth, and a sacrifice fly made it 3-1.  Cantwell then surrendered a two-out double, but she got the final out to keep CSUEB within reach.
 
That paid off in the bottom of the seventh, as Tiffany Pope reached on an error.  Getting to second on a ground out by Portillo, Pope was cashed in by a ChaCha Miranda single to left field, bringing the score to 3-2.  But that was is as close as VU got, as Easy Bay got the final out to keep the Lions away from back-to-back wins.
 
The Pioneers had three runs on seven hits, three errors, and three runners left aboard.  VU had two runs on three hits and left three on the base paths.  Cantwell went 5.2 of the game and dropped to 0-1, though she registered six Ks.  Vanessa Robles and Mari Ipatzi each went the final inning and a third.
 
 
VU 7   WOU 4
Vanguard was the designated home team and Bella Bastien slotted a single into center field to begin the contest.  She then swiped second and got to third on a groundout.  Up came Pope, and she delivered an RBI single to right field to open the scoring for the day, but the Wolves rebounded against Summer Stephens.  WOU got a trio of hits, all singles, and a wild pitch, to score twice and snag a 2-1 advantage.
 
Back came Vanguard in the top of the second, as Leah Mays took a one-out walk and used a couple of WOU miscues to scamper home and tie things at 2-2.  But in the bottom half, Western Oregon pegged two runs on the board, as the Wolves knocked Stephens out of the game.  Robles got the call from the pen, and she got the final out to end the stanza, with VU trailing 4-2
 
The offense swung the game for the final time in the top of the third, which commenced with Roth taking a leadoff walk.  Walker bunted her to second, and Portillo brought Roth home with a smooth single to center.  ChaCha Miranda also singled to put runners at the corners, and after a bad throw, Miranda trotted to second and Portillo raced home.  Tied at 4-4, Preslee Brower singled to move Miranda to third, and a past ball handed Miranda a free path home to put Vanguard ahead 5-4.
 
Robles got some extra insurance in the top of the seventh, as Pope tripled with one out, and Portillo put a bouncing ball on the deck.  WOU tried to throw Pope out at home, but she slid in safely, which allowed Portillo to get to second.  An error on a chopper by Miranda got Portillo home, and VU led 7-4.
 
Robles only had one spot of trouble after entering the game, as the Wolves got runners to second and third in the bottom of the sixth with two outs.  Despite the danger, Robles handled a grounder sent right back to her to end the opportunity, and she got three-straight outs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
 
The Lions scored seven runs on 10 hits, had one error, and left eight runners on base.  WOU had four runs, eight hits, three errors, and six runners stranded.  Pope, Portillo, and Kayla Rodriguez each had two hits, with Rodriguez getting her first collegiate knocks.  Stephens had one strikeout and Robles had three, with each surrendering four hits.
 
What was Said?  "The team is working hard and we're moving forward together," said Head Coach Nicole Thomas.  "We're excited to see what's possible and lean into what God has planned for us this season."
 
What's Next?  The Lions play Chico State Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.