SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- The a first day at Dominican University of California did not favor Vanguard softball, as the squad lost both games Friday to start the Pacific West Conference series. Falling 3-1 and 10-2 in six frames, the Lions dropped to 21-32 overall and 14-20 in PacWest action, while DUC improved to 24-24, 17-15.
What Happened? Mari Ipatzi had a 3-2 count against the first batter of the game for DUC, but the next pitch was sent over the fence in center field to put the Penguins ahead 1-0. Ipatzi got out of the first frame without giving up another run after that, but Dominican used an error and a double to increase the gap to 2-0 in the bottom of the second.
Preslee Brower got the first hit of the game for VU in the second, but it was not until the top of the fourth that the Lions got their only run of the game.
Leah Mays had a one-out double to left field and a single by
Tiffany Pope to center field brought her home to put the deficit within reach at 2-1. However, another home by the Penguins in the sixth returned the lead to two runs at 3-1, which was the final score of the game.
The Lions had an 8-6 edge in hits in the game, while both teams had one error and five runners left aboard. Ipatzi had five strikeouts in six innings and one walk but dropped to 9-8. Taylor Rodriguez won for DUC and had two Ks, improving to 6-8. Mays led all players with a perfect 3-for-3 contest.
Game 2
Lilyana Roth led off the game with a single, and
Kamryn Walker followed with a double, but DUC got the next two players out to deny VU an opening tally. Unfortunately for
Lauren Cantwell, the first inning was rocky, as a walk and a single were cashed in on the third home run of the day for the Penguins.
Mia Iacomini finished off the frame for VU, and the Blue and Gold registered a run in the second.
Adriana Portillo led off the stanza with a single and got to second on a groundout. A single by
Kayla Rodriguez got her to third, and a sacrifice fly by Pope made it 3-1 to give the Lions some confidence. However, Dominican countered with four runs in the bottom half to lead 7-1, and after three in the bottom of the sixth, DUC secured a 10-2 victory.
The Lions could have had more than one run in the top of the fifth, as VU loaded up the bases on consecutive singles by Roth, Walker and
Hailey Ibarra. But the Penguins got an out at home on the next batter, though a groundout then scored Walker to make it 7-2. Despite that, a fly out to capped the rally, and VU only got a Pope single in the top of the sixth.
DUC had 12 hits and four runners left on base, while VU had 11 hits and nine stranded runners, while each team had one error. Cantwell took the loss and dropped to 5-7, and Iacomini went four and two-thirds, giving up six earned runs and fanning one hitter.
Vanessa Robles threw 13 pitches as well for VU, while from the batter's box, Roth went 3-for-4 to lead the lineup. Walker, Portillo, and Pope all netted a pair of hits.
What's Next? The Blue and Gold return for the final two games of the year tomorrow.
