May 11, 2001
LOS ANGELES - The Santa Clara softball team split games at the Western Independent Softball League Tournament this afternoon, falling to host Loyola Marymount 4-0 but defeating San Diego 2-1 to break a nine-game losing streak.
With two losses to open the tournament against Saint Mary's last weekend, the Broncos move to 1-3 in Championship play and 15-28 overall. The Gaels lead the tournament with a 3-1 record and are 27-32 overall while LMU (35-21) and San Diego (21-33) have identical 2-2 WISL records.
In the Bronco opener, Lion pitcher Jennifer Heliotes scattered nine hits in a complete game shutout to improve to 9-5 on the season. Senior pitcher Krista Barry took the loss for SCU and falls to 8-18 on the season.
LMU got a double out of right fielder Lisa Abbott to score third baseman Sami Strinz, who reached on a single with two outs in the top of the second inning.
The Lions added a pair of runs in the third to build a 3-0 lead. Center fielder Christy Cerecedes drew a two-out walk and scored on shot stop Kim Bissett's single. Cerecedes scored on catcher Trisha Gomes' single.
Gomes would do more damage in the sixth inning with her first career home run over the center field fence. She would finish the game 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In the second game of the afternoon for the Broncos, junior pitcher Deanna Rodriguez earned the win to move to 7-19, throwing a complete game to help the Broncos to a 2-1 win over San Diego. She scattered seven hits, allowing just one run in the sixth inning. She finished with two strikeouts and one walk.
The Broncos struck early, scoring two in the top of the first. Junior first baseman Kristi Harrington had a one-out single and scored on sophomore designated hitter Coresta Salas' single. Salas would score on Rodriguez's single. Both Harrington and Salas finished with two hits, Harrington going 2-for-4 with a run scored and Salas was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Toreros cut the Bronco lead to 2-1 when designated hitter Jade Quentin hit a one-out triple to right-center field. Third baseman Kristy Clarke's single scored Quentin. Clarke finished the game 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Standings (Through Friday)
Saint Mary's 3-1
LMU 2-2
San Diego 2-2
Santa Clara 1-3
Saturday's Schedule
9:00 a.m. - Santa Clara vs. USD
11:00 a.m. - Saint Mary's vs. USD
1:00 p.m. - LMU vs. Saint Mary's
3:00 p.m. - LMU vs. Santa Clara