Mahan’s gem gives Lions split

COSTA MESA ? Krista Mahan lugged one of the giant softball-shaped boards off the field. Each has a printed reminder of a Vanguard trip to the NAIA National softball tournament in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

The boards are heavy. But Mahan, a sophomore, would not mind the responsibility of carrying one more off the field. For the Lions to get there, it will take more performances similar to the second game of the Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader against Biola University on Monday.

Mahan pitched a complete-game shutout, the defense held firm when the going got rough and the offense came through with clutch hits. The Lions, in sixth place in the GSAC and needing to rise up to at least fourth to make the regional playoffs, took the second game of a doubleheader, 3-0.

The Lions (18-19, 3-9 in conference) dropped the first game, 4-0, to the Eagles (25-8, 6-8).

Vanguard Coach Beth Renkoski said while her team didn’t take both games, she was happy with the effort throughout.

“This was a good day because the team played hard through both,” Renkoski said. “Game one didn’t slow them down. It was a good effort. We’ve been missing some games by [not getting] key outs here and there. It was nice to see them come up with them in the second game.”

Three consecutive innings Mahan pitched with a runner in scoring position and each time she came out on top.

“I made sure I kept it on the corners,” Mahan said. “I wanted to try and keep them off balance.”

In the third, Mahan allowed a two-out triple, but followed with a strikeout. In the fourth her pitches wandered wide of the corners and two walks put Eagles on first and second with two outs. But Mahan induced a grounder to second to end the inning.

“I just wanted to stop their momentum,” Mahan said. “[Catcher Melissa Benson] called some good pitches. She just reminded me to keep it low and keep it on the corners. I have a good defense out there. They always do great.”

The defense and Mahan worked together to escape the last jam the Lions would face, in the fifth. With first and second and one out, Renkoski came to the circle. Mahan told her she was fine and they set forth a plan to get the next out.

Just as it was spoken of, a ground ball came to third baseman Sarah Howe, who turned and flipped to covering shortstop Rachel Bomgren for the force at third.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to happen,” Renkoski said. “We were trying to get them to hit it over there. Rachel has been very reliable. It was a tight play, good toss. Just what we did in practice.”

Mahan would face the minimum of seven batters the remainder of the game. Biola led off the sixth with a hit, but Vanguard countered with a double play.

“The defense played well all day,” Renkoski said. “In the second game, we were making the plays we didn’t in the first. It was nice to stand up to an offense as good as Biola’s and hold them to nothing. [First baseman] Krystal [Keltner] came up with some clutch outs.”

Vanguard came up clutch in the batter’s box as well. All three of the Lions’ runs came with two outs. In the second, three consecutive two-out hits led to two runs. Howe singled to left field to drive in Jade Christensen and Jenna Willis.

In the third, it was a two-out double from Lindsay Emmel that drove in Benson, who stole second on the previous pitch. The 3-0 lead was plenty for Mahan.

“We got a couple of hits and we really played together well,” Renkoski said. “We are not as deep as we normally are. Less depth means we need everybody to be good more often.”

Vanguard managed only two hits in the opening game.