Athenas split with Vanguard in season opener

COSTA MESA, Calif. – In the No. 8 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team's season opener, the Athenas faced NAIA foe Vanguard and ended the day with a split. The Lions won the first game 2-1 and CMS took the second 4-1.

Vanguard has been a consistently strong team in the Golden State Athletic Conference in NAIA and finished last season at 33-22. CMS handed the Lions their first loss in the 2015 season this afternoon.

Game 1: Vanguard 2, CMS 1

Freshman pitcher Anna Gurr (CMC) got the rock in the first game of the season and had a stellar collegiate debut. Gurr stuck out five and only allowed one earned run.

Despite Vanguard's ace, Rachel Stalford, holding the Athenas to just four hits in the game, CMS stranded runners in four of seven innings. The Lions scored first but then CMS got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Junior Katie Savard (CMC) started the rally with a double down the left field line followed by a single by freshman Carly Roleder (CMC). Junior Mikayla O'Neal (CMC) drove in Savard with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2: CMS 4, Vanguard 1

The Athenas bounced back after taking the loss in the first game and quickly put a run up in the second inning. This time, sophomore left fielder Alexa Heydenberk (CMC) scored Savard on a sharp line drive just out of the reach of the Lions' second baseman.

The third inning saw CMS get two more runs across. Junior Shannon O'Neill (CMC) put pressure on the defense and led off by forcing a third baseman error. Freshman Kristyne Hong (CMC) followed with a textbook sacrifice bunt and last year's SCIAC Player of the Year, Tara Robinson (CMC), tagged a single up the middle. Junior Brooklyn Robinson (SCR) and Savard each recorded an RBI to increase the Athenas' lead to 3-1.

Heydenberk notched her second RBI for the game in the sixth inning by scoring pinch runner, junior Janelle Shiozaki (CMC).

In her first collegiate appearance, freshman pitcher Briana Halle (CMC) recorded the win after a strong outing by sophomore starter Andrea Jewett for the first 2.1 innings.

Game 2 Box Score

The Athenas' defense held Vanguard's scoring to just three runs on the day, a much lower number than The Lions' appearances earlier this season.

In the double header, Savard had four hits including a double plus an RBI and two runs scored; Heydenberk led with two RBI and three hits.

CMS (1-1) next suits up against Occidental (1-1) at home on Feb. 14.

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