Athena Softball Drops Pair of One-Run Games to Vanguard

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Destiny Garcia continued her stellar start to her collegiate career tallying four hits in a doubleheader against NAIA Vanguard, but the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team came up just short dropping a pair of one run contests on Friday at Athena Field, 4-3 in the opener and 3-2 in eight innings in the nightcap.

The Lions improved to 4-0 on the season with the pair of victories while the Athenas dropped to 0-3 after the two hard fought contests.

CMS took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap looking for a split. Ananya Koneti led things off with a single in the bottom of the fourth inning, Kaili Aqui stole a base moments later and reached home on an unearned run.

The Athenas took a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth, as Garcia doubled to center field for an RBI, bringing home Sophia Nguyen for the score. Vanguard, however, was able bring runs home in the sixth and seventh respectively, forcing extra innings before sealing the win the with Sophia Kashou singling to center field, enabling Noni Chaves to reach home in the eighth after a runner was placed on second to start the inning due to the international tiebreaker rule. CMS tried to answer in the bottom half, but had the tying run thrown out at the plate. 

The Athenas battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the first game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Koneti singled to shortstop for a two-RBI hit, bringing home Emma Suh and Garcia to to get within one score. The Athenas were able to threaten once more in the sixth and seventh with two hits, but the Lions were able to hold on for the win. 

CMS ultimately had 13 hits on the day, with Garcia leading the way with four while Ari Livi and Suh had two hits apiece.