COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Another strong start from
Mari Ipatzi allowed Vanguard softball to take the first game of the Pacific West Conference series against the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The Lions won the first contest 1-0, though UHH snared a 4-2 decision in the second contest of the afternoon. VU went to 11-20 overall and 5-9 in PacWest play, while Hawaii Hilo went to 15-14, 12-10.
What Happened? It was another stress-free affair for Ipatzi, as though she had only one strikeout, she held the UHH lineup to five hits. The Vulcans had their first real scoring chance in the top of the second, with a single and a walk leading to runners at second and third, but Ipatzi got her lone K to end the threat. It was mostly clean after that, until Hilo used the same combination to lead off the top of the seventh. A sacrifice bunt put the Vulcans at second and third, but Ipatzi got a flyout and a ground out to end the danger and secure the victory.
Credit is also due to Madison Rabe, who had three strikeouts for UHH and kept the Lions mostly in check as well, but the home side prevailed with the game's only run in the fifth.
Tiffany Pope had a one-out single to right field and was then bunted to second by
Leah Mays. Up to the plate came
Bella Bastien, and she poked a single into center, which was enough for Pope to come around and score
Neither team had an error in the game, and UHH had a 5-4 edge in hits. The Vulcans left three runners on base, and VU left seven.
Game 2
The Vulcans tagged an opening run off
Vanessa Robles, as a leadoff single was followed by a pair of two-out walks. A hit batter put the visitor's ahead 1-0, however, the Blue and Gold found an immediate response in the bottom half of the frame, with
Megan Ireland talking a leadoff walk. She got to second on a grounder and then swiped third to put herself into a favorable position for
Lilyana Roth. Roth worked a 3-2 count, but the Hilo pitcher then threw her next offering to the fence, with Ireland scampering home to level things at 1-1.
The Vulcans captured the advantage again in the second, with a walk, a stolen base, and a single putting Hilo up 2-1.
Lauren Cantwell swapped out with Robles and ended the frame, and she remained in the game the rest of the way.
Kamryn Walker almost leveled the scoreboard again in the bottom of the third, with a single turning into a race for home thanks to an error by the Hilo center fielder. Walker rounded third, but the relay got to the UHH catcher before Walker could slide in safely.
Cantwell quieted the Vulcans in the third and fourth, but UHH used four hits to leap ahead 4-1 in the top of the fifth, though Cantwell got a ground out to escape as Hilo left the bases loaded. The Lions could only find one reply in the bottom half, with Mays leading off with a single. She stole second base, and got to third on a wild pitch, while a grounder by Bastien allowed her to score. Unfortunately, the Lions were retired in order in the sixth and seventh.
Hilo scored four runs on 10 hits, had one error, and left 13 runners on base. VU had a pair of runs on five hits, one error, and three runners left aboard.
Kayla Rodriguez went 2-for-3 to pace the lineup from the plate. Robles dropped to 3-8, and Cantwell had a pair of Ks, while Madi Lee got the win and fanned three VU hitters.
What's Next? Vanguard plays two more against the Vulcans tomorrow at noon.
