GSAC Play Starts With Splt at Vanguard

Game One      Game Two 

(3/4/08 - Softball) COSTA MESA - Junior RHP Kory Briggs tossed six shutout innings and took advantage of an 11-hit attack to help #25-ranked Concordia earn a 5-0 win after falling 2-1 in the opener to 10th-ranked Vanguard, Tuesday afternoon in the Golden State Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Briggs (4-1) gave up just six hits and did not walk a batter while striking out three. She faced just four batters over the minimum as she got a double play to end the 1st inning and a pinpoint pickoff throw to first base by junior C Lauren Hastings.

The Eagles gave Briggs the only run she would need in their first at-bat of the game. Ashley Alvarez singled to lead-off the game, but both she and Samantha Perez were cut down on fielder's choice plays. Freshman Carly Smith singled to move Caitlyn Senkbeil to second, then Shannon Walton added another single to bring Senkbeil around to score.

The Eagles added another run in the 3rd inning on a sacrifice fly by Smith, then tacked on two more runs in the 5th inning. Alvarez got things going with a double and scored two batters later on a run-scoring single by Senkbeil. Walton added another RBI-single after Senkbeil had moved to second on a groundout, then took third on a wild pitch.

Laura Wiens took over in the 7th inning and nailed down the 7th shutout of the season for the Eagles. Jen Olvera singled to lead off the frame and spark the change by head coach Frank Rizzo. Wiens rewarded the faith in her manager by inducing a pair of pop ups and a strikeout for the victory.

Vanguard scored single runs in the 1st and 2nd innings and held off the Eagles through the final five innings to take the victory in game one. Smith provided the only run of the game for the Eagles as she roped a 2-out double after Senkbeil had singled.

Rachel Reekstin (5-3) was the hard-luck loser for the Eagles in the opener, scattering eight hits over six innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out four. Olvera (9-0) gave up a run on four hits while walking three and striking out five for Vanguard (19-5, 1-1 GSAC).

Smith went 4-for-6 over the two games while both Senkbeil and Alvarez added three hits and each scored a run.

Concordia (19-6, 1-1 GSAC) is on the road again this Saturday, March 6 for a pair of GSAC games against Hope International with the first game set to start at 12:00 p.m.