Lions Take GSAC Opener, Split Double Header With No. 9 Royals

COSTA MESA, Calif. - The Lions split their conference opener Friday, taking down No. 9 Hope International 7-2 to start GSAC competition for the 2019 campaign. In the second game of the double header, Vanguard slipped by a score of 3-5. VU is now 9-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Game 2: VU 7, Hope International 2
Vanessa Dwyer (JR/Temple City, CA) pitched a complete game against the Royals, throwing seven innings and allowing two runs while facing 28 batters. HIU posted two runs in their first at bat behind three hits. Vanguard responded immediately when Emily Hall (SR/Lake Forest, CA) led off with a double to right center. A Hope International error on Samantha Shaffer (SR/Modesto, CA)'s hit brought Hall home and equalized the game at 1-1. In the bottom of the second, Belle Herrera (SO/Riverside, CA) hit a single and Morgan Pilbin followed with a base hit. Mia Palomino (JR/Anaheim, CA) stepped up to the plate next, and knocked a two RBI double to give Vanguard the 3-2 lead. Hits from Cassie Balswick (JR/Turlock, CA) and another single from Shaffer added three more VU runs and put the Lions out front 6-2. Dwyer held the the Royals scoreless for two more innings, while VU added one more themselves. Balswick singled to left center at the start of the bottom of the fourth and Hall laid down a bunt to advance her to second. Balswick stole third and scored on Amber Huffman (SR/San Diego, CA)'s sacrifice fly. Dwyer held Hope International off for two more at bats to seal a 7-2 victory.

Game 2: VU 3, Hope International 5
Courtney Thornhill (JR/Hughson,CA) made her fourth appearance for the Lions on the mound during the second game of the GSAC home opener. The Lions fell behind in first inning by two runs, and both teams went scoreless until in the top of the sixth the Royals added three more. Trailing 5-0, Hall got on base and Huffman's bunt moved her into scoring position. Shaffer sent a home run over the fence next, closing in on the HIU lead. Kolbi Tonini (SR/Reno, NV) came in on relief, and snagged three outs in the top of the seventh. Vanguard posted one run in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't overcome Hope International's lead. 

"We know that we can compete with Hope and they're the top of the conference, so we know we can come out and compete against San Diego," Balswick said. "We're not going to take them lightly." 

Recap, photo courtesy of VU