COSTA MESA -- Facing Lubbock Christian Tuesday morning for a brace of games, Vanguard softball could not score in either game and lost both contests Falling 4-0 and 6-0, the Lions dropped to 6-7, while Lubbock Christian improved to 4-6.
What Happened? The two sides did not have a hit through two innings, and though the Lady Chaparrals got one in the top of the third,
Vanessa Robles got the next hitter to line out to retire the side. Robles then survived a leadoff triple in the top of the fourth, getting a strikeout and two fly outs to avoid giving up the opening run. But LCU used back-to-back doubles to go ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth, and after a couple more hits put the visitors ahead 3-0, and
Mia Iacomini spelled Robles in the circle.
Iacomini got the final out in the fifth, and had a clean sixth frame, but the Lady Chaps got a run in the top of the seventh to extend the advantage to 4-0.
Mari Ipatzi was called on from the pen, and shegot the final two outs in the seventh, which included
Carson Cooper throwing out her second runner of the game.
However, Natalie Gray pitched a gem, as her perfect game gave LCU a 4-0 victory. The Lady Chaps scored four runs on 10 hits, and VU had one error.
Game 2
Lauren Cantwell saw four Lubbock Christian hits produce two runs in the top of the first, but VU final got recorded its first hits of the day in the bottom half.
Kamryn Walker dropped a bunt for a single and
Adriana Portillo followed with her own single to right field, but she got thrown out at first after looking to stretch her hit into a double to end the frame.
Unfortunately, the Blue and Gold had only two hits after that, neither of which produced a run. Cantwell dealt smartly until the visitors pegged four on the board in the top of the seventh, with
Summer Stephens replacing her and recording the final two outs. Cantwell had one strikeout in 6.1 innings of work.
Leah Mays went 2-for-2 to pace Vanguard on the day from the dish. The Lions had one error, while LCU had six runs on eight hits.
What's Next? The Blue and Gold return for a noon doubleheader on Friday against CSU San Bernardino.
