Lions remain perfect in GSAC

COSTA MESA — In the first game, the Vanguard University softball team proved how good its pitching can be.

In the second game, the Lions showed they also have the offense when they need it.

It all added up to a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep Saturday at Vanguard, as the Lions got by Azusa Pacific, 1-0, and 5-3.

Vanguard (26-5, 6-0 in conference) used a standout pitching performance from junior Jen Olvera in the first game. Olvera threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit and striking out a career-high 15 batters.

“I just went out there and threw my hardest, hit my spots,” said Olvera, who improved to 8-1. “The defense played well, too. Our whole pitching staff has been working hard … it was a good game.”

The Lions managed the game’s lone run in the fifth off Camille Hundley of Azusa Pacific (10-12, 2-6). With one out, sophomore catcher Ashley Ocasio walked, advanced to second on junior Noelle Navarette’s sacrifice bunt and stole third.

Ocasio then scored on an infield single from freshman first baseman April Glenn.

“Right now, the biggest part of our success has been that our team has really played together,” said Vanguard Coach Beth Renkoski, whose Lions had a 15-game winning streak before losing their final game of the Tucson Invitational Games on Tuesday. “It’s shown in the really tight games, that we’ve won those games. Because of that team attitude, our confidence has gone up.”

The Lions again showed that attitude in the second game, when they came from behind two different times in a 5-3 win. Senior shortstop Rachel Bomgren had two hits and two walks for Vanguard, getting on base all four times, and freshman designated hitter Melissa Forrester also had two hits.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Boyer pitched three innings of shutout relief, getting the win to improve her record to 7-0.

“That was a big pickup from a freshman pitcher,” Renkoski said. “She hasn’t had a lot of appearances yet in the GSAC. Any time you step into the conference scene, there’s more pressure there, but she held the lead and got us a win. That was big.”

Vanguard won its first seven games at the Tucson Invitational Games before losing the finale, and now looks to start a new winning streak in GSAC play.

“[The loss] was kind of a reality check,” Olvera said. “We can still lose. It was a wake-up call, like, ‘Hey, we still need to get better everyday.’ It just made us stronger.”

Vanguard continues Golden State Athletic Conference play on Tuesday at Hope International.

Golden StateVanguard 1,

Athletic Conference

Game 1

Azusa Pacific 0

Score by Innings

APU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 0

VU 0 0 0 0 1 0 x - 1 3 0

Hundley and Mickelson; Olvera and Ocasio. W -- Olvera, 8-1. L -- Hundley, 6-4. 2B -- Olvera (VU).

Game 2Vanguard 5,

Azusa Pacific 3

Score by Innings

APU 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 3 7 5

VU 2 0 0 0 3 0 x - 5 8 0

Halma, Hundley (5) and Besseghini; Rynda, Boyer (5) and Ocasio. W -- Boyer, 7-0. L -- Halma, 4-7. 2B -- Cleaves (APU), Blazek (APU), Olvera (VU).