02/02/09

Vanguard Splits with PLU in Season Opener

Gunneman pitched game one

Flasck played the corners for VU

Costa Mesa, Calif. – The spring softball season is underway and the Vanguard Lions split a non-conference double header today with visiting Pacific Lutheran of Washington. PLU beat Vanguard 2-0 in the opener but the Lions came back to edge the Lutes 3-2 in the nightcap.

Junior Melissa Forrester pitched six complete innings in Vanguard’s game-two win as darkness neared in Costa Mesa. Hurling five shutout innings of two-hit ball while taking a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning, Forrester was finally touched for a pair of runs as the Lutes tied the game with a couple of run-scoring singles.

The Lions, who took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI triple by Kasey Klarenbach and a run-scoring single by Sarah Howe, promptly put Forrester back into the lead with a single run in the bottom of the sixth. Stephanie Leisenring singled to lead off the sixth and pinch runner Katie Daniels took second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Amanda Plum. Moving to third on a groundout by Jenna Bergh, Daniels then scored on a single by freshman Amanda Omahen. Omahen was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on another hit by Klarenbach.

Freshman Emilee Reaber took over in the circle for Forrester, making her collegiate debut with a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh and darkness closing in quickly. Reaber gave up a leadoff triple, but came back to get the next batter on a bouncer to the mound. With a runner at third base and one out, the Lutes tried a suicide squeeze bunt. The Vanguard defense eliminated the runner at the plate and completed the game-ending double play by throwing out the bunter who attempted to advance to second base on the play.

Forrester notched her first win of the season and Reaber recorded her first collegiate save as the victory gave the Lions a split in the season-opening double header.

Game one featured a solid pitching performance by VU’s junior Kelsey Gunneman. Scattering six hits in seven innings on the mound, Gunneman struck out four and walked one but took the loss as the Lions had only four hits against PLU’s Stacey Hagensen.

The Lutes scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning without the aid of a hit and added another run in the top of the sixth on a two-out infield single.

The Lions had runners on base in six of the seven innings but stranded six while Hagensen picked up PLU’s first victory of the season.

Vanguard returns to the diamond on Thursday to host La Sierra University in another non-conference double header. Game one begins at 2:00 p.m.

Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore