COSTA MESA, Calif. - For the first time in 2012, the Cal Lutheran softball team took to the diamond, as they traveled to Vanguard University. The NAIA Lions mustered out a 3-2 victory over the Regals in the opening game and followed with a 5-0 shutout of CLU in the night cap.
Box Score (Game 1): VU 3, CLU 2 - F
Box Score (Game 2): VU 5, CLU 0 - F
A new look Cal Lutheran team has just one senior with five juniors, four sophomores and a half a dozen freshmen for the 2012 campaign. A number of Reglas made her CLU debut today.
In the season opener, Cal Lutheran lost by the slimmest of margins, falling 3-2.
Scoreless through five, CLU struck first, plating a pair in the top of the sixth on a two-run homerun off the bat of transfer Shannon Tinsley. Danika Green singled earlier in the inning and freshman Shonna Christianson came around to score on the long ball after pinch running. Senior Sara Lichtsinn and freshman Alex Templin connected for back-to-back singles, but the Regals were unable to add to their then 2-0 lead.
The Lions clawed back in the bottom of the sixth with three hits. A two-run double by Libby Archer equalized the score.
A scoreless top of the seventh would leave a chance for the home squad. A pair of CLU errors set the Lions up, as Brittany Colenzo had the game-winning hit, to win 3-2.
Transfer Brittany Labbe and freshman Ryanna Morua each recorded the first hit of her CLU career. Sophomore Kayla Sakamoto was responsible for the seventh Cal Lutheran hit of the morning.
Katelyn Downing was tagged with the loss after allowing just eight hits and striking out three in 6.1 innings.
Stacie Salazar earned the win for Vanguard, tossing a complete game.
Vanguard used the momentum they generated late in game two to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. They would never look back as the Regals collectively connected for just three hits in the game.
Two of those came in the second frame. CLU threatened on a one-out Lichtsinn double to left field. Liz Mertel then stroked the first collegiate single of her career to left, advancing to second on the throw, putting runners at second and third with two out, but a ground ball to third base would end the Regals chance of narrowing the deficit.
Mertel collected her second single of the game, in the fifth.
Nicolby Atallah was tagged with the loss after throwing 3.0 innings. Christianson came on to close out the final three innings.
Colenzo earned the victory for Vanguard while aiding her own cause with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring another pair. Shelby Ross was credited with the save.
For CLU Kathleen Watson-Otani also made her debut, roaming right field.
The Regals faced the Lions for the first time since February 13, 2004, when the teams split a double header in Thousand Oaks.
Cal Lutheran (0-2) will return to Hutton Field next Saturday, Feb. 4 to open their home schedule against another NAIA opponent in Concordia University. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
