Softball Swept in Home Opener
February 6, 2007

Complete Box Scores »»  Game 1     Game 2

Everyone from members of the San Marcos community to body-painted students flooded Mission Hills High on Saturday to cheer on the CSUSM softball team in its first-ever home opener. But while the festivities and atmosphere were great, the party was spoiled by Vanguard University, who swept the Cougars in the double-header by scores of 2-1 and 9-1.

In game one, fans were just getting settled in with their food (courtesy of Mr. Taco) when Vanguard got on the board. Melissa Forrester led off the second inning with a single, and pinch runner Katie Daniels advanced to third when Jennifer Rynda singled through the right side. A walk loaded the bases, and with two outs in the inning leadoff hitter Rachel Bomgren plated Daniels with a base hit.

Though Vanguard led early, this game was very much a pitchers' duel. The Lions' Jennifer Olvera was spectacular, blowing away Cougar hitters with high fastball after high fastball. In 8 innings of work, she struck out 14 hitters, while giving up 4 hits and 1 run. Cougar ace Melissa Lerno recovered from the early trouble to match Olvera pitch-for-pitch, striking out 8 in her 8 innings of work.

CSUSM would tie the game in the 5th. Erica Coelho drew a walk, and beat the throw to second when Lindsey Preovolos bunted her over. With two outs, Leilani Madrigal came through with a booming double to center, scoring Coelho and tying the game at 1.

The score would remained locked at 1-1 through the regulation 7 innings, so the game advanced to the 8th under International Rules (a runner is placed at second base to start every inning). Vanguard would waste little time in capitalizing. A passed ball advanced runner Sarah Howe to 3rd, but she was cut down at home on an attempted suicide squeeze by Olvera. On that play, however, Olvera would hustle into second, keeping a runner in scoring position with just one out. The next hitter was Forrester, and she delivered again with a run-scoring single. CSUSM got its runner to third in the bottom of the inning, but could not plate her, thus losing the game 2-1.

Unfortunately, game two did not prove to be as exciting. Early control troubles and shaky defense derailed what was an otherwise very good start from Erica Coelho. She walked the bases loaded in the first inning, and with one out the Cougars dropped a fly ball that allowed a run to score. Two batters later, Jennifer Rynda cleared the bases with a double, giving Vanguard the 4-0 lead.

The Cougars answered back with a rally of their own, getting one run back thanks to a great effort by leadoff hitter Danielle Tucker. The slap hitter reached on an infield single, made it to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when the catcher overthrew the third baseman in a pickoff attempt. Despite that highlight, CSUSM was unable to muster much else against Rynda, the Lions' starter. She went the full 7 innings, allowing just that one unearned run, and striking out 5.

Things would get worse for CSUSM in the second, as Bomgren tripled and scored on a suicide squeeze, and Howe crushed an inside-the-park home run to the left field wall. But once the score was 6-1, Coelho settled down, not allowing another run until the 6th inning. Saturday was by far Coelho's longest start of the year, as she pitched the full 7 innings, allowing 9 runs (5 earned) and striking out 3.

With the game well in hand, Vanguard scored 2 more runs in the 6th on a Howe double, bringing her RBI total to 3 on the game. The Lions would push across their final run in the 7th on an Ashley Ocasio single. CSUSM got a couple runners in the 9th, but Rynda induced a ground out to seal the victory.

The loss drops CSUSM to 1-5 in its inaugural season. They'll have little time to rest - the Cougars will take the Mission Hills High field on Sunday to face Division III opponent Redlands University. The double-header starts at noon, and all fans are welcome to come out and cheer on their team!