Vanguard faces Cal Baptist in a key conference game

The Vanguard University softball team, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, will try to be the first team to deal No. 2-ranked Cal Baptist its first Golden State Athletic Conference loss when the Lions play host to the Lancers in a doubleheader that starts today at noon.

Cal Baptist, which began the season ranked No. 1, is 35-3, 8-0 in the GSAC. Senior shortstop Chantal Millard leads the Lancers with a .473 batting average, with 26 RBIs and 14 doubles. Pitcher Amy Thomas is 19-2 with a 0.79 ERA for Cal Baptist, which also has sophomore Melanie Ahumada, 16-1 with a 1.53 ERA. Ahumada recently earned GSAC Pitcher of the Week honors.

Senior pitcher Jennifer Olvera is 14-0 with a 0.40 ERA to lead Vanguard (29-9, 4-4). She has struck out 165 batters.

Freshman catcher Angela St. Croix leads the Lions at the plate with a .376 batting average with 30 RBIs and 12 doubles.

Vanguard junior Sarah Howe has a .352 average, second on the team, with 12 RBIs.

Olvera has a .324 average and is second on the team with 19 RBIs. Her younger sister, Patricia, a freshman, is 5-0 as a pitcher for the Lions.

— From staff reports