April 11, 2005
EUGENE, Ore. - The Santa Clara University softball team lost to Oregon 5-0 in both games of a doubleheader this afternoon at Howe Field. Santa Clara's record falls to 20-23 and Oregon improves to 25-13. The Broncos were to play No. 13 Oregon State for a Pac-10 tripleheader today, however, on Monday, the Beavers cancelled the contest.
The Ducks did not return home from their trip to Arizona until this morning because of a cancelled flight yesterday evening. At the time of the first pitch, 16 of the 20 players on the roster were present. By the start of the second game, all 20 players were at the field and available to play.
Oregon short stop Breanne Sabol finished the two games 4-for-7 (.571) with four RBIs, a double and a run scored while Duck pitchers struck out 13 batters and allowed no runs and just one walk.
In the first game, Bronco junior pitcher Liz Courter kept the Oregon offense at bay through three innings, but in the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Oregon, followed by a single led to the game-winning run. The Ducks added three runs in the fifth, in part due to two Bronco errors. Oregon's final run came in the sixth on the Broncos' fourth error of the contest.
Santa Clara netted four hits in the game, including two by junior second baseman Jenny Brown.
In the second contest, Oregon scored two runs in the third and fifth innings and scored its final run in the sixth. Santa Clara scattered six hits, including two from shot stop Shannon Linerud. Bronco freshman Jerrica Castagno took the loss.
Santa Clara returns home to Marsalli Park on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Cal Poly at 1 p.m. The Broncos will resume Pacific Coast Softball Conference play this weekend with two doubleheaders against Loyola Marymount.
