02/26/09
Lions Prove Tough on Turf With Sweep of Simpson
Redding, Calif. – Heavy evening and early morning rain moved today’s nonconference double header from the Simpson University campus to the artificial turf at the Big League Field of Dreams Complex in Redding. The Lions made themselves at home on the turf to hand the Red Hawks a 7-2 loss in game one and a 19-2 loss in a six-inning nightcap.
Sophomore Patty Olvera gave up 10 hits in game one, striking out four and walking none while relying on two double plays by the Vanguard defense to hold the home to two just two runs.
The Lions, who took advantage of five Red Hawk errors, scored first with an unearned run in the top of the third inning as freshman Amanda Plum walked to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a two-out throwing error. Senior Sarah Howe doubled down the left field line to start the fourth inning, beginning what would become a three-run rally for the Lions. Vanguard capitalized on a pair of walks and Kasey Klarenbach capped the rally with a two-out single, scoring Brittany Parlopino with the final run.
Leading 5-1 in the top of the fifth, the Lions added a single run in each of the final three innings. Junior Jenna Bergh singled home Howe in the fifth, while Parlopino doubled and scored on a hit by Klarenbach in the sixth. VU’s seventh run of the game came after sophomore Stephanie reached on an error and eventually scored on Bergh’s second run-scoring single of the game.
Outhit 10-6 in game one, the Lions picked up the offense in game two as Kelsey Gunneman took the mound for the Lions. Gunneman would hold the Red Hawks to five hits and a pair of runs in the run-rule game as the Vanguard bats provided plenty of offense for the sweep.
The Lions took the lead in the top of the first when Klarenbach led off with a hit and came around to score. However, Simpson responded with both of their runs in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and combining three singles for the 2-1 lead.
Vanguard came from behind with two runs in the third to take the lead for good as the Lions combined three singles and a couple of walks to post a 3-2 advantage. Bergh smacked a one-run single and Amanda Young walked with the bases loaded for VU’s second run. The Lions padded the cushion to 5-2 with a two-run double by Bergh in the fourth inning, as the designated player went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs in game two.
With just a three-run lead heading into the top of the sixth, the Lions exploded for 14 runs on 14 hits and one error to put the game away. Sending nine batters to the plate before the first out was recorded, the Lions had scored eight runs before hitting into a line drive double play for the first two outs of the inning. Vanguard added seven more consecutive singles and six more runs before the final out occurred. Parlopino and Katie Daniels each had two hits and three RBIs in the six-run sixth, helping VU accumulate 20 hits in the 19-2 victory.
Olvera and Gunneman each improved to 3-1 with today’s victories. The Lions (7-4) continue the northern California trip on Saturday when they travel to San Francisco to take on Academy of Art University in another nonconference double header.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore