LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- Starting the DII West Coast Challenge today, hosted by CSU San Marcos, Vanguard softball ended 1-1 after up-and-down contests against Simon Fraser and Colorado Christian. The Blue and Gold had an easier offensive day against the Red Leafs, winning 7-3, but the Cougars upended the Lions 12-2. VU ends the day at 4-5.
VU 7 SFU 3
Summer Stephens tallied her first win of the year in relief, as
Vanessa Robles tossed three quality innings to begin the game, with two walks and two strikeouts. It took until the second frame for VU to score, as
Megan Ireland slapped a one-out single and then stole second.
Leah Mays belted a double to the left-center gap, bringing in Ireland to put the Lions up 1-0.
In the top of the third,
Kamryn Walker was hit by a pitch with one out and hustled home on a double clobbered by
Adriana Portillo, putting the VU lead at 2-0.
Tiffany Pope jumped into the party with a triple to cash in Portillo, and an
Andrea Connor single to right field allowed Pope to score and make it a 4-0 edge.
With a double and a triple gathered by the lineup, Portillo decided to add a home run to the squad's ledger, rocketing a ball over the fence with one out in the top of the fifth. Connor landed another single and scored on the next hit, as
ChaCha Miranda launched a double to the left-field fence. Ahead 6-0,
Preslee Brower made it 7-0 in the top of the sixth. She started the interval with a double down the left-field line, got to third on a wild pitch, and then rushed home on another pitch thrown wide.
SFU finally got to the Lions in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh, totaling three runs during the last two sections, but
Mari Ipatzi got the final four outs for the Blue and Gold to secure the win.
The Lions tallied seven runs on 12 hits, had one error, and left five on the base paths. SFU had three runs, three hits, and three runners left aboard. Stephens had three walks in 2.1 innings of work, while Ipatzi had one K and one walk. Portillo ended a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 and pacing the squad with two RBI. Connor and Brower each had two hits.
CCU 12 VU 2
It was a rough go for Vanguard in the second contest, as the Cougars racked up a 12-2 decision. Robles could not escape the first period, as CCU put up three runs on three hits and two walks.
Lauren Cantwell replaced Robles, and she got the next three hitters out. The bats produced one run in response in the bottom of the first, as Walker doubled to left field to start the frame. She got to third on a ground out and dashed home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-1 game. Unfortunately, CCU put up four in the top of the second to scoot away. Walker scored the other VU run in the bottom of the third, as she had a one-out single. After Roth took a walk, Portillo lanced a single back up the middle, and Walker came home to make it 7-2.
The Lions had two more hits, but could not register any other runs, dropping the matchup. CCU had 12 runs on 15 hits and left five runners aboard. VU had five runners left on base and six hits. Cantwell had two strikeouts in six innings and was charged with nine earned runs. Walker and Portillo were each 2-for-3 on the afternoon.
What's Next? Vanguard returns tomorrow for two more games, facing Western New Mexico at 9:00 a.m. and Colorado Mesa at 12:30 p.m.
