March 25, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Freshman first baseman Lacey Smale went 3-3 with one RBI as the Santa Clara University softball team defeated Western Washington 3-0 in the second game of an afternoon doubleheader. The Vikings took the first contest by a 1-0 score.
The Broncos, now 14-21 on the season, will visit Cal Poly for a Wednesday doubleheader. Please note that the game time has been moved from a noon first pitch to 5 p.m. Western Washington improves to 4-6 on the year.
Junior outfielder Coresta Salas kicked off scoring with in the first inning of the second contest with a single to right field. She advanced on senior third baseman Kristi Harrington's sacrifice bunt and moved over to third on the team's next out. Smale's single, also to right field, brought in Salas.
In the third, junior shortstop Tracie Hall's sixth sacrifice hit of the season advanced Harrington to second, after she reached on a single. Smale's next at bat put her on base and moved Harrington to third, but a throwing error by the Viking short stop allowed Harrington to reach home.
Western Washington countered with three hits in the fourth, but was unable to score any runs, as Dani Deyette's was caught stealing second after reaching base with a single down the right field line, and first baseman Carlena Herd was tagged at third after trying to stretch her double. Third baseman Adrienne Moore singled but could not advance before the Vikings' third out.
Santa Clara capped scoring in the bottom half of that inning when junior catcher scored on a wild pitch. She reached base on balls and advanced to third pitcher Deanna Rodriguez's single to center field.
Both teams finished with six hits each. Rodriguez improved to 7-9 in the circle this season, while teammate Kelley Johnson picked up her first save of the year. Los Gatos native Nancy Mills took the loss for Western Washington.
In the opener, sophomore catcher Rachel Sherman posted the Broncos' only hit of the game, with a single up the middle in the second inning. The Vikings scored in the third. Pitcher Amanda Grant singled in Moore, who tripled to center field to reach base. Western Washington scattered three other hits throughout the contest. Bronco freshman pitcher Jennifer Ponzo took her eighth loss of the season while Grant earned the win.
