Colleges: One-hit wonders

Amara Aguilar

It was a day of one-hit wonders for the Vanguard University

softball team.

For starters, the Lions received some top-of-the-line performances

from their pitching staff Friday in a season-opening doubleheader at Cal

Lutheran.

Senior Gina Liebengood was in the circle for the Lions’ first game, a

4-0 triumph. She faced 21 batters, struck out 13 and allowed only one

hit.

“Gina was dominating and Cal Lutheran is a team that she should have

dominated and she definitely did,” Vanguard Coach Beth Renkoski said.

“She’s been reliable, consistent and mentally tough. She’s got a killer

instinct.”

Liebengood has piled up 503 strikeouts and is on pace to pass

Vanguard’s career leader, Shannon Saylor, who finished with 523

strikeouts in 1995.

Friday, Liebengood also tied Jen Houston for most career shutouts with

25.

In Vanguard’s second contest, a 9-0 win, Marciea Ball allowed one hit

in a five-inning complete game.

The Lions received offensive support from freshman Ashley Mauro, who

went 4 for 6 in the doubleheader with three RBIs and four runs scored.

Junior Jill Jessen went 4 for 7 with three RBIs and two runs scored in

the doubleheader.

“It was definitely a good start when we have so many young players,”

Renkoski said.

The Lions had three freshmen start in their first contest: shortstop

Lisa Jackson, center fielder Mauro and second baseman Holly Martinez.

“They didn’t seem to be nervous,” Renkoski said. “The whole team

seemed to be relaxed. They were excited to finally get going.”

This week, the Lions hit the road against Cal State Dominguez Hills

for a nonconference doubleheader, scheduled Tuesday at 1 p.m. On Friday,

Vanguard returns home for two games with Notre Dame de Namur beginning at

1:30 p.m.

The Vanguard men’s basketball team (12-9, 8-4 in the GSAC) is on a

roll. The Lions edged Biola, 75-73, at the Pit Saturday.

Senior Shane McKim scored a team-high 20 points against the team he

played for eight years ago. The Eagles (21-1, 11-1) were ranked No. 1 in

NAIA Division I.

McKim was recently named Lion of the Week for his performance against

Christian Heritage College Jan. 15. He scored 19 points and had 10

rebounds in the Lions’ 80-79 conference victory.

The Lions have won 11 of their last 13 games. They will look to

continue their winning ways this week with a contest Tuesday at home

against Concordia University and Saturday on the road against Westmont

College. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team was stunned on the road by Cal

Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday, 50-47, in a Big West conference game.

The Anteaters (14-6, 7-2 in the Big West) were back to their old ways

when it came to ball handling, committing 19 turnovers to the Mustangs’

eight. Cal Poly is no stranger to being on the winning end of an upset at

home. Earlier this season, the Mustangs defeated Utah State, 61-58, in

San Luis Obispo.

In Saturday’s contest, UCI senior guard Jerry Green was held to seven

points, the first time in 31 games he did not score in double figures.

He did inch closer to UCI career scoring leader Tod Murphy (1,778).

Green needs only 20 points to tie Murphy’s mark.

This week, the Anteaters will look to rebound from their only

conference road loss as they continue their travels against UC Riverside

Thursday and Cal State Fullerton Saturday. Tipoff for both games is 7:05

p.m.

The UCI men’s volleyball team (3-4, 1-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports

Federation) was recently ranked eighth in a USA Today/AVCA Division I

coaches’ poll. UCLA was ranked first, followed by Stanford, Pepperdine

and Hawaii.

The Anteaters host Princeton, featuring former CdM High standout

Dennis Alshuler and Newport Harbor High product Scott Dore, Tuesday at 7

p.m. Alshuler is a 6-foot-5 junior opposite and Dore is a 6-3 senior

middle blocker.

UCI then visits UC San Diego Friday for a 7 p.m. match.

After splitting a season-opening doubleheader against Cal State Los

Angeles Jan. 21, the Vanguard baseball team returns to action this week

at UC San Diego Tuesday at 2 p.m. and home against Chapman University

Friday at 2 p.m.

The UCI baseball team was swept by visiting University of San Diego in

a three-game season-opening series.

The Anteaters host UCLA Tuesday at 7 p.m. and begin a three-game

homestand with BYU Thursday at 7 p.m.

In UCI women’s basketball action this week, the Anteaters host UC

Riverside Friday at 7 p.m.

UCI (7-12, 3-5 in the Big West) is coming off a 75-60 loss to

visiting Cal Poly Saturday.

The Vanguard women’s basketball team is also looking to rebound after

falling to Biola, 63-49, at the Pit Saturday.

The Lions (10-8, 7-5 in GSAC) host Concordia Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.,

then visit Westmont Saturday at 5:30 p.m.