Softball: Lions split with UC San Diego

COSTA MESA - The Vanguard University softball team split its

nonconference doubleheader with visiting UC San Diego on Monday.

The Lions (20-12) rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to win,

3-2, in the opener, before losing, 8-0, in the nightcap.

Trailing, 2-1, Nikki Benning’s single drove in Celina Camarillo with

the tying run before Jill Jessen’s bases-loaded walk won the game.

Camarillo went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI for Vanguard,

while Gina Liebengood pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn her

10th win of the season.

Andrea Saucedo, Benning, Jessen, Cheri Smith, Rachael Rolle and

Jessica Thompson each had key hits for Vanguard.

Smith scattered five hits over five innings as the Lions’ starting

pitcher. She allowed only one earned run and struck out two.

In Game 2, Tritons’ pitcher Christi Martinelli tossed a five-inning

no-hitter to lead UCSD over Vanguard, 8-0.

A Tritons’ error prevented a perfect game for Martinelli, who struck

out three, while walking none.

Vanguard pitchers allowed only two earned runs, but three Lions errors

accounted for the rest.

Amy Mettee went 3 for 4 with three runs scored for UCSD (13-11), while

Jeanine Cordero and Kim Aggabao each added two hits.

NONCONFERENCE

Vanguard University 3, UC San Diego 2

UCSD 000 110 0 - 2 5 0

Vanguard 010 000 2 - 3 8 2 Harlan and Hunstad; Smith, Liebengood (6) and Rolle. W - Liebengood,

10-6. L - Harlan, 7-5. 3B - Mettee (UCSD), Harlan (UCSD), Camarillo (VU).

Game two

UC San Diego 8, Vanguard 0

UCSD 105 11 - 8 10 1

Vanguard 000 00 - 0 0 3

Martinelli and Cordero; Willis, Camarillo (3), Liebengood (4) and

Rolle. W - Martinelli, 6-6. L - Willis, 1-1. 2B - Aggabao (UCSD).