AZUSA, Calif. -- Finally getting Pacific West Conference games underway, Vanguard softball began the 2026 slate at 1-1 after two games at Azusa Pacific today. VU dropped the first contest 6-3 but roared back in the second to secure a 9-6 victory. APU went to 8-10 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while VU improved to 7-12 overall.
What Happened? The Cougars snagged the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, as two singles and a stolen base did the honors for the hosts. But the VU offense generated a run in the top of the third, with
Megan Ireland starting the dance with a single.
Lilyana Roth fired her own single, with Ireland scooting to third, and a wild pitch soon followed that knotted the game at 1-1.
Vanessa Robles survived her early bobble to excel through the next three frames, but APU found a run in the bottom of the fifth, with two singles and an error doing the damage. Yet the Lions bounced back for their starter again, shooting to a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth.
Adriana Portillo hit a single to open the frame, and she got to third on an error during the sequence.
Kayla Rodriguez batted her home with a groundout to tie things at 2-all, and
ChaCha Miranda followed with a single to center. She snuck to second on a wild pitch, got to third on an
Andrea Connor base knock, and the pair then executed a double steal play to put VU ahead by one.
But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Azusa Pacific smashed two singles and a double to cash in four runs and take a 6-3 lead, with the Cougars holding on for the win. The Cougars had 10 hits, one error, and left six runners on base, while VU had eight hits, two errors, and five runners left aboard. Robles dropped to 3-5 but had six strikeouts in six innings. Ireland and Portillo each went 2-for-2.
Game 2
The Lions struck first for game two starter
Summer Stephens, with Ireland starting the twin bill with an infield single. Portillo then clobbered a double to put the pair at second and third, and Rodriguez cashed them in with a single to give Stephens a 2-0 lead. Vanguard's starter was efficient in the bottom of the first, getting all three batters out, but APU started humming again in the bottom of the second.
A couple of singles got runners to the corners, and
Lauren Cantwell replaced Stephens. However, the Cougars got a single and a three-run double to hop ahead 4-2. The offenses were held in check for the next two frames, but the Lions equalized in the top of the fifth.
Tiffany Pope was hit by a pitch to commence the inning, and she promptly stole second. A Portillo groundout got her to third, and Rodriguez once more delivered an RBI single to cut the gap to 4-3. A Miranda single put two on the base paths, and
Ava Jo McGowan loaded up the bases by taking a walk.
Preslee Brower provided the essential hit, as her single brought Miranda home to make it 4-4.
APU took its final lead in the bottom of the fifth, 5-4, as the Blue and Gold soared from there on. Roth started the sixth with a single, and after Portillo got one as well, Rodriguez put a ball on the deck. APU tried to get Roth out, as she got around third, but a bad throw led to Roth scoring and runners at second and third for the Lions. Miranda got a run home on a groundout, and a
Leah Mays knock up the middle got Rodriguez home to make the VU advantage 7-5.
At the beginning of the seventh, Brower took a leadoff walk and Ireland bunted her to second. Roth then smoked a double into the left-field corner, easily scoring Brower, and a grounder by Portillo a couple of batters later allowed Roth to score and make it 9-5.
Mari Ipatzi replaced Cantwell before the bottom of the seventh got going, and though a triple and a single made it 9-6, Ipatzi closed the door after that to deliver a split for Vanguard.
The Lions had nine runs on 14 hits, had two errors, and stranded 11 runners. APU had six runs on nine hits, two errors, and four runners left aboard. Cantwell went four and two-thirds, netting three strikeouts and improving to 2-4 on the season. Rodriguez had a brilliant 4-for-5 afternoon with four RBI to lead all players, and she ened the day with five RBI for the Lions. Portillo went 3-for-5, and Brown and Roth each had a pair of hits.
What was Said? "I'm INCREDIBLY proud of the resiliency our team is showing this season," Said Head Coach
Nicole Thomas. "They're sticking to their plans and trusting themselves. We are looking forward to seeing them continue to lean into their strengths."
What's Next? A Thursday doubleheader with CUI, which starts at 1:00 p.m.
