March 12, 2005
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Despite two Bronco home runs, Santa Clara University lost 8-2 to Colorado State in the championship bracket of the National Invitation Softball Tournament at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale. The Broncos recovered immediately afterward with a 2-1 victory over UC Davis and are now 12-14 on the season.
Three straight singles put the Rams on the board with one run in the bottom of the first. Santa Clara loaded the bases in the third with three singles, but was unable to convert. The Broncos tied the game with a home run in the fourth and took a 2-1 lead after the top of the sixth, with another home run. In the fourth, second baseman Jenny Brown hit a one-out long ball to left field and outfielder Jessica Clee followed in the sixth with a two-out homer to center field.
Colorado State ran away with the contest in the bottom half of that inning, putting seven runs on the board on six hits. Liz Courter took the loss for the Broncos in the circle. Santa Clara was out hit by an 11-5 margin overall, and both teams played errorless ball. Jessica Strickland earned the win for the Rams, striking out nine.
Against the Aggies, Clee opened the second frame with a single and promptly stole second. Brown brought Clee in with a single. Santa Clara extended its lead to 2-0 in the sixth. Shannon Linerud and Vanessa Werner opened the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back singles. Linerud was caught stealing, but Clee's ensuing double to right center brought in Werner for what turned out to be the game-winning run, as UC Davis countered with a home run in the seventh.
Jerrica Castagno struck out five in five innings to earn the win, and Sara Overmier picked up the save.
The Broncos will conclude action at the NIST on Sunday, with a battle for fifth place against host San Jose State at 9 a.m.
