April 17, 2004
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University softball team earned two victories this afternoon in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play, topping Saint Mary's 4-3 and 6-2 at Marsalli Park. Santa Clara improves to 20-23, 6-4, while the Gaels fall to 9-34, 2-8.
In the first game, sophomore second baseman Jenny Brown hit a solo shot over the left field fence, her first homer of the season, to put the Broncos on the board in the bottom of the third. The Gaels, however, answered back in the top of the fourth when Jordann Bass hit a two-run homer to left field.
It was a battle of the bats, as Santa Clara put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth, to tie the game. Sophomore shortstop Shannon Linerud reached base on balls. She was quickly moved to second on a base hit from senior catcher Rachel Sherman. Linerud scored off a single by senior pitcher Jaime Forman-Lau to center.
Brown started off the bottom of the fifth for the Broncos with a double to left center. She advanced to third on a ground out by junior third baseman Vanessa Werner. Sophomore Jessica Clee, then hit a deep fly ball to left field enabling Brown to tag-up and put the Broncos ahead 3-2.
Santa Clara added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off a solo homerun to left field by Linerud, her first of the season.
Saint Mary's made one last attempt to comeback as they managed to push one run across the plate in the top of the seventh.
Forman-Lau took the win for Broncos. Her record improves to 17-16. Saint Mary's pitcher Lisa Bautista recorded the loss and moves to 4-10.
In the second game, the Bronco bats were once again on fire as they recorded 12 hits, to yield a combined 20 hits in today's games.
Brown led off the bottom of the first with a single to right field. She moved to second as freshman outfielder Angela Kabanuck reached first on an error by the Gael third baseman. Linerud then doubled to right field to drive in Brown and put the Broncos on the board.
Santa Clara added a run in both the bottom of the second and third, including a solo shot to center field by Sherman, also her first of the season.
The Broncos recorded another run in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a double to left center from Kabanuck. She was able to advance to third on an error by the Saint Mary's catcher. Linerud then singled to left field to bring home Kabanuck.
Singles by junior outfielder Keri Resinger and Brown, along with a double by Clee, enabled Santa Clara to add the final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Saint Mary's only managed two runs, including a homerun by Marcia-Marie Euker.
Liz Courter records the win for the Broncos and improves to 3-7 on the season. Jennifer Eaton takes the loss for Saint Mary's and ends the day 5-20.
The Broncos will close out the home season with another doubleheader against the Gaels. Game time is noon tomorrow. Admission is free. Santa Clara will honors seniors Jaime Forman-Lau and Rachel Sherman after the contest.
