March 7, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University softball team defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 7-6 in the second game of a doubleheader this afternoon at Marsalli Park. The Cavaliers took the early game 2-1. The Broncos are now 7-14 on the season as Virginia concludes the day 10-8.

In the second game, the Cavaliers took the early lead over the Broncos, posting one run in the top of the first and managing five runs in the top of the third. The Bronco defense, however, would silence the Cavaliers for the remainder of the game.

Santa Clara entered the top of the fourth with one run on the board as they rallied back to push five runs across home plate. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Shannon Linerud started the rally with a triple to the left center field fence. Sophomore Kate Goethals then reached first on a fielders choice, advancing Linerud to third and placing runners at the corners. Freshman Valerie Mock singled to left field driving in Linerud. Senior pitcher Jaime Forman-Lau then hit a two-out triple to drive home Goethals and Mock. Sophomore Jenny Brown doubled down the right field line allowing Forman-Lau to score. Senior Vanessa Werner then moved Brown to third with a single to the Cavalier shortstop. The final run of the inning to tie the game at six all came off a fielder's choice from sophomore Jessica Clee, which advanced Werner to second on an error by Virginia, scoring Brown.

Santa Clara scored the winning run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on an unearned run by Forman-Lau.

In the first game of the day, the Cavaliers scored one run in the top of the third and the game-winning run in the top of the fifth. Santa Clara produced one run in the bottom of the fourth.

Forman-Lau recorded the win for the Broncos in the second game of the day and the loss in the first contest. Her record moves to 6-10. Joanna Barstad recorded the loss for Virginia in the second game and the win in the first. She moves to 4-2 on the season.

The Broncos will participate in the NIST in their next outing. The tournament is being hosted by San Jose State at the Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvale. Santa Clara will open the weekend with games against Iowa and Washington on Friday, at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively.