03/03/09
Cougars Claim Two From Lions
Costa Mesa, Calif. – The Vanguard Lions lost both ends of a nonconference double header with NAIA No. 21 Cal State San Marcos University this afternoon at Vanguard University. Losing 3-1 and 2-1, the Lions were swept for the first time this season and lost to CSUSM for the first time in the program’s three-year history.
Entering the day on a four-game winning streak, the Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kasey Klarenbach tripled to lead off the inning for the hosts. Klarenbach scored on a sacrifice fly by Sarah Howe, giving VU starting pitcher Patty Olvera a one-run edge.
Cougar starter Melissa Lerno held the Lions to three hits the rest of the way as she escaped a bases loaded jam in the fifth and retired her final six batters in a row. Olvera scattered seven hits in seven complete innings but the Cougars tied the game on an RBI-single by Alicia Vicencio in the top of the fifth inning. CSUSM took the lead in the sixth when Tasha Stokes squeezed home the go-ahead run and Vicencio drove in CSUSM’s final run one out later.
Kelsey Gunneman started in the circle for the Lions in game two. Gunneman allowed only five hits in her complete-game effort, but was tagged with the loss as the Cougars scored a couple of runs in the top of the third inning when they combined three singles and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.
The Lions scored their lone run in the bottom of the third when junior April Glenn doubled home freshman Amanda Plum. However, Vanguard would manage only one hit and one runner after that point. Senior Sarah Howe, who doubled with two outs in the sixth, was stranded on base as Brenna Sandberg and Ashley Salvino combined for the two-hitter to complete CSUSM’s sweep over the Lions.
Plum and Klarenbach had two hits each for the Lions, who totaled only six hits on the day. CSUSM improved to 10-7 with the wins while the Lions drop to 9-6.
Vanguard continues the season at home on Friday with a nonconference double header against Bethany University and begins the GSAC schedule on Saturday at Point Loma Nazarene.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore