April 17, 2007

LA MIRADA, Calif. - No. 7-ranked Vanguard University won a pitcher's duel with a 1-0 decision in game one but the No. 16-ranked Biola Eagles held on for a 6-4 win in game two, earning a split of a GSAC softball double header played at BU in La Mirada. Hitting an RBI-single in the top of the seventh of game two, VU senior shortstop Rachel Bomgren broke VU's school record for career hits.

VU's Jennifer Olvera and Biola's Katie Gustaveson locked into a rematch of a previous pitching duel in early March, where Olvera and the Lions came away with a 1-0 win in Costa Mesa. The duo matched each other out for out through the first five innings as Gustaveson held the Lions to three hits and no runs before handing the ball over to BU reliever Emily Gray in the top of the sixth inning.

Bomgren drew a one-out walk off Gray and stole second base to get into scoring position. She moved to third base on a wild pitch that was also ball four to April Glenn. Hitting with one out and runners at the corners, Sarah Howe lifted a fly into left-center field. Tagging at third base, Bomgren scored when the fly was dropped but Glenn was thrown out at second base.

Olvera made that lone run count as she retired the final six Eagles in a row. Pitching an outstanding game, Olvera (14-2) allowed only one hit while striking out 12 Eagles and walking none in her fourth shutout and 15th complete game of the season. Vanguard totaled five hits and one error as the line scores for both teams were identical to the game first game in the March double header.

Game two was as different as night and day with Biola taking the quick lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first and a pair of unearned runs in the second inning against Vanguard starter Kelsey Boyer. The first two Eagles singled to lead off the third inning, bringing in freshman Melissa Forrester to replace Boyer in the circle. By the end of the third, the Eagles held a 6-0 advantage over the Lions.

The Vanguard offense was quiet again facing Gustaveson as the senior right-hander held the Lions to two hits through the first five innings. Gray came back to the circle for Gustaveson in the top of the sixth, trying to hold onto the 6-0 lead. The Lions greeted her with a pair of back-to back singles, although Bomgren was erased from the bases before Glenn's single. With Glenn at second, Olvera launched a two-run homer to cut BU's cushion to 6-2.

The Lions put together another rally in the top of the seventh with one final effort to reverse a poor start to game two. Freshman Jenna Bergh led off with a single to left and advanced to second on an infield error by the Eagles. Moving to third on the same error, she scored on a ground out by Noelle Navarette.

Bomgren drove in the final run of the game with her record-breaking single, and the tying run was at the plate when the final out was recorded.

Gustaveson (14-5) earned the win in game two while Boyer (9-1) was stuck with her first loss of the season. The Lions were led by Bomgren and Bergh's three hits apiece and Olvera's two hits, including the homerun, in game two.

Bomgren's third hit of the day was the 276th of her four-year career, breaking Chrissy Vega's record of 275, set in 1999.