COSTA MESA -- Vanguard softball played the final Pacific West Conference games against the Cougars of Azusa Pacific today and drew even at the end of Saturday's action. The Lions blanked APU 2-0 in game one on Alumni Day, with plenty of veterans in attendance. However, the Cougars stayed afloat to take the twin bill 3-2. VU went to 21-28 overall and 14-16 in PacWest games, while APU went 23-27, 14-16.
What Happened? The Lions loaded the bases in the first, but the home side could not bring in a run. However, with
Mari Ipatzi holding APU to one hit through six frames, the offense eventually awoke for a brace in the bottom of the fourth. VU loaded up the bases once more, with
Preslee Brower opening the phase with a single to right field.
Leah Mays then tried to put down a sacrifice bunt, but the APU first baseman dropped the throw, allowing Brower to reach third in the process. Mays then stole second, though it started as a dummy to try to let Brower scamper home, but the Cougars did not take that bait. Regardless,
ChaCha Miranda then worked a walk, and Hailey Ibara was called in for a pinch-hit appearance after that. She delivered a rolling single through the left side to put VU up 1-0, with a walk to
Megan Ireland making it 2-0.
A walk and a single gave Azusa Pacific a glimmer of hope in the top of the seventh, but Ipatzi got the next two hitters out to secure the win. She improved to 9-6 in the complete game win that saw the starter net one strikeout. Four players gave Vanguard hits, and each team had one error.
Bella Bastien also came up with a fantastic leaping grab to rob APU of a least a double right at the left-field fence.
Game 2
Lauren Cantwell and Ava Hernandez delivered clean frames in the first and second, but APU grabbed its first run of the day in the top of the third. A single and an error put the Cougars ahead 1-0, with the visitors extending that edge to 3-0 in the sixth. A leadoff triple, an error, and a double did the damage, and though Cantwell had done well,
Mia Iacomini replaced her and held the Cougars off the board the final inning-plus.
That allowed the Vanguard offense a chance, and the Lions started their chase in the seventh. Brower led off with a single, with a bobble by the left fielder giving her an extra base.
Reese Vaughn stepped up in a huge way, as she picked up her first collegiate hit and RBI with a single through the infield into the grass in center. A single by Ibarra followed, though APU got an out at second on the play. Bastien snaked a single down the left-field line to put two on, and a single by
Kamryn Walker made it 3-2. Unfortunately, the comeback ended there, as the Cougars got the final out to pick up the 3-2 win.
Azusa Pacific had six hits, and VU had nine, while both teams had two errors and six runners left on base. Roth matched her career-high of three hits in a game, the third time she has this season. Brower had two hits as well, while Cantwell dropped to 5-6, though she added three Ks to her season tally.
What's Next? The Lions host Biola for a noon doubleheader next Saturday, with the Senior Day ceremony taking place at the end of the DH.
