2-28-09 

Vanguard Takes Two From Academy of The Art

Saratoga, Calif. – West Valley Junior College - Threats of rain did not hinder a beautiful day for softball as the Urban Knights from Academy of Art University hosted the Lions from Vanguard University in a nonconference double header at West Valley Junior College in Saratoga. The visiting Lions came out on top in two tight contests, earning a 2-1 victory in game one and claiming a 4-1 win in game two for VU’s second sweep in a row.

The Lions took the immediate lead in game one with Kasey Klarenbach leading off with a walk. Moving to second base on a sacrifice bunt by April Glenn, Klarenbach got an easy ride home with senior Sarah Howe drove an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 2-0 Vanguard advantage.

Vanguard, who tied the Urban Knights with six hits in game one, stranded one runner in each of the next five innings. However, sophomore Patty Olvera and the Vanguard defense maintained the 2-0 shutout until the bottom of the seventh. Connecting for two of their six hits in the bottom of the seventh, the Urban Knights cut the lead to 2-1 on two straight hits and a sacrifice fly before Olvera could induce a ground out and foul pop up to end the game.

The Urban Knights took the lead in game two on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning off junior starter Melissa Forrester. That was the only hit Forrester had allowed until with two outs in the bottom of the third. Following a two-out error, AAU’s designated player ripped a double to right field. A stellar play by the Vanguard defense erased the runner at the plate to end the inning, leaving the score 1-0 as Vanguard came to the plate in the top half of the fourth inning.

First baseman Stephanie Leisenring drew a walk to begin VU’s fourth inning and moved to second on a bunt single by sophomore catcher Angela St. Croix. Junior designated player Jenna Bergh singled to load the bases and freshman Amanda Plum singled to right field to drive in Leisenring with the tying run. A right-side grounder by Brittany Parlopino plated St. Croix with the go-ahead run before the Knights would record the final two outs.

However, the Lions would make that one-run lead stand as Forrester scattered four hits over the next two innings, escaping each jam before handing the ball over to Kelsey Gunneman in the home half of the sixth.

By that time, the Lions had padded the lead to 4-1 with a lone run in the fifth and sixth innings. Glenn doubled and scored on a one-out single by Leisenring in the fifth, while pinch-hitter Amanda Young began the final rally with a leadoff single in the sixth. Returning to the game to run for Young, Plum advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Parlopino and scored on a single by Forrester before she left the game.

VU’s 4-1 lead would be plenty as Gunneman allowed one runner in each of the final two innings before she notched the save for Forrester, who improved to 2-0 with the win.

Winning their fourth game in a row, the Lions improve to 9-4 overall while NCAA Division II Academy of Art drops to 5-13 with the losses.

The Lions return home for another nonconference double header next week when Vanguard hosts Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday. 

Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore