College softball: Lions split a pair

COSTA MESA - Vanguard University pitcher Cheri Smith pitched a

complete-game four-hitter to help the Lions defeat visiting Hawaii Hilo,

3-2, in the second game of a nonconference softball doubleheader

Wednesday to salvage a split.

The Vulcans won the first game, 2-1.

Smith did not strike out a batter and walked two to improve to 5-9,

upping Vanguard’s record to 23-28.

Jill Jessen drove in two runs with a single and a fielder’s choice and

Smith helped her cause with an RBI on a first-inning groundout.

Vanguard took a 2-0 lead in the first, but Hawaii Hilo tied it in the

fifth, only to see Vanguard rally for the game-winner in its half of the

inning.

Vanguard’s Nikki Banning opened the rally with an infield single and

advanced to third when Valerie Vanaken’s fielder’s choice produced a

throwing error. Christi Fortner pinch ran for Banning and scored on

Jessen’s fielder’s choice.

Vanguard scored first in the opener, but the Vulcans (22-18) strung

together three of their four hits to score single tallies in the sixth

and seventh.

Pitcher Alysia Atchley went the distance for Vanguard, walking four and

striking out one to fall to 6-13.

Andrea Saucedo went 2 for 4 in the first game to key the Lions’ six-hit

attack.

Benning was 1 for 3 with an RBI in the opener.

NONCONFERENCE

First game

Hawaii Hilo 2, Vanguard 1

Hawaii Hilo 000 001 1 - 2 4 0

Vanguard 001 000 0 - 1 5 0

Cancholoa and Hipwell; Atchley and Carver. W - Concholoa. L - Atchley,

6-13. 3B - Hashida (HH).

Second game

Vanguard 3, Hawaii Hilo 2

Hawaii Hilo 000 020 0 - 2 4 2

Vanguard 200 010 x - 3 5 2

Anderson and Hipwell; Smith and Carver. W - Smith, 5-9. L - Anderson. 2B

- Padasdao (HH).