College softball: Ball rolls to Lion of the Week

COSTA MESA - Vanguard University junior Marciea Ball improved to

10-7 with two wins for the Lions softball team and earned Golden State

Athletic Conference and NAIA Region II Pitcher of the Week laurels for

her efforts, thus receiving Lion of the Week recognition (March 18-25).

Ball, a 5-foot-9 right-hander who has pitched in 20 games this season,

started the second game of both doubleheaders and posted wins over GSAC

rivals Azusa Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene, last week.

Scattering 17 hits in 15.2 innings, Ball held her opponents to five

runs and never allowed an earned run.

Ball, an Antelope Valley College transfer, led Vanguard into extra

innings tied 2-2 with APU, and the Lions supported her with five runs in

the top of the eighth to ensure a 7-4 victory.

In the PLNU game, Ball kept the Crusaders scoreless until one unearned

run in the bottom of the seventh tied the game 1-1. Visiting Vanguard

provided one run in the top of the 8th, and Ball shut out the NAIA

fourth-ranked Crusaders in the bottom of the frame to preserve the win.