Feb. 3, 2002
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh, Santa Clara freshman Lacey Smale doubled, bringing in two runners, and senior Tracie Hall homered to lead Santa Clara to a 5-2 victory over Sacramento State in the second game of a doubleheader this afternoon at Shea Stadium in Sacramento. With a 4-1 win to open the day, the Broncos improve to 2-2 on the season, while the Hornets fall to 0-4.
The seventh inning began with junior Roni Rivera reaching base on balls. Senior Sydney Wiginton singled to the shortstop to advance Rivera to second. Freshman Kelly Johnson pinch ran for Rivera and was the first to cross the plate on Smale's double. Hall's home run was the team's first of the season. Senior pitcher Deanna Rodriguez held on in the bottom of the frame for her first victory of the season.
In the opener, Sacramento State took the early lead in the second, but there scores in the top of the sixth put the Broncos on board. Once again, it was Smale, this time with a triple, that kick-started the rally. She went 4-8 for the day with four RBIs.
Santa Clara wrapped up the victory with another score in the seventh. Freshman Jennifer Ponzo earned her first collegiate victory in the circle, allowing eight hits and striking out two.
The Broncos will continue action against Southwest Missouri State at the Cal Poly Tournament on February 8. The invitational will continue in San Luis Obispo through the weekend with Santa Clara also facing Colorado State, host Cal Poly, Southern Utah and UC Santa Barbara.
