IRVINE, Calif. --  The final game for Vanguard softball at the CUI Kickoff Classic featured VU and Chico State, with the Lions ending their opening weekend with a 10-2 triumph.  Vanguard returns with a 3-2 mark to start 2026.
 
What Happened?  The Wildcats put a little pain on Mia Iacomini in the top of the first, as the designated visiting team used two walks and three singles to pop ahead 2-0.  However, Iacomini was the better pitcher after that, as VU ran the show the rest of the morning.
 
The Blue and Gold got on the board in the bottom of the second, with Tiffany Pope getting pegged by a pitch to start the frame.  Ava Jo McGowan hit an infield single to get Pope to second, and a fielder's choice got her to third.  The Lions then executed a double steal, as ChaCha Miranda snuck over to second to draw a throw while Pope scrambled home to make it a 2-1 game.
 
The bats had a ton of fun in the bottom of the third, as Vanguard scored five on two hits, with Chico State netting two errors in the interval.  Bella Bastien reached on the first error of the inning to commence the period, and Lilyana Roth dropped down a bunt and beat out the throw for a single.  Kamryn Walker then put a bouncer in the infielder, but everyone slid in safely to juice the bases.  Another Wildcat error brought both Bastien and Roth home to put VU ahead 3-2, and Portillo was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for the second time.  A groundout by McGowan brought in a run to make it 4-2, and Miranda then launched a double down the left-field line to push the lead to 6-2.
 
The Lions brought the mercy rule into play in the bottom of the sixth to win an inning early, which started with Andrea Connor taking a walk and then running to second on a wild pitch.  Hailey Ibarra accepted a walk, with Connor soon swiping third to put runners at the corners.  Leah Mays put a hot shot to first, and the defender made an error, allowing Connor to score.  A wild pitch then caused Chico State more problems, with both Mays and Ibarra scoring on the chaos.  Roth and Walker then followed with back-to-back triples, taking the game for the Lions as they won 10-2.
 
Vanguard scored 10 runs on five hits and left only three runners on base.  Chico State had two runs on four hits, three errors, and left five runners on base.  After the rough first inning, Iacomini was nearly flawless, as she fanned three for the game and only allowed one hit after the first inning and improving to 1-1 with the win.  Roth (2-for-4) and Miranda (2-for-2) led VU in hits, with Miranda pacing the squad with two RBI.  McGowan secured her first collegiate hit.
 
What's Next?  The first home contests for Vanguard, as the NAIA Champions, Southern Oregon, return to Costa Mesa for a Friday doubleheader at noon.