June 13, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Santa Clara University softball team recently completed its season under first-year coach Jaime Forman-Lau. A few season highlights:
Santa Clara finished the season with a 26-31 record, including 9-11 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. The team finished the season winning five of its final eight games to earn a fourth-place finish in the league. The Broncos faced another tough schedule this season, including seven games against nationally-ranked opponents. On March 6, the Broncos out-hit defending national champion UCLA and tested the Bruins with a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 late-game advantage.
Senior Vanessa Werner finished the season ranked nationally in two categories, as she was one of the toughest batters in the NCAA to strike out this season (20.7), ranking 18th. She also made her mark in sacrifice hits, finishing the season ranked 22nd nationally with a 0.30 average.
Five Broncos earned All-PCSC honors for their performances this season. Second baseman Jenny Brown and outfielder Jessica Clee were honored with second-team selections while Liz Courter, Shannon Linerud and Daisy Mettlach received honorable mention recognition.
Three Broncos were also earned PCSC weekly honors throughout the season. Liz Courter earned Pitcher of the Week honors for two consecutive weeks, March 28 and April 4, throwing five complete games and posting three shutouts over the span. Jessica Clee was named PCSC Player of the Week on March 28 for her 7-for-12 performance, including three homeruns, a double, a triple and a .615 on base percentage. Shannon Linerud captured the honor the following week, batting .368 over six games while posting 6 RBIs and 7 hits, including a game-winning triple and her first homerun of the season.
A number of Broncos moved into the Santa Clara record books after their outstanding performances this season. Jessica Clee topped all performances, becoming the Bronco career leader in RBIs (86), home runs (21), sacrifice flies (5) and slugging percentage (.497). She also set season records for RBIs (43), home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.565). Jenny Brown became the Bronco career leader in both doubles (36) and walks (70). Liz Courter's 14 wins this season was the fourth highest ever for a Bronco pitcher and moved her into fifth place for career wins with 28. Courter also became one of the top five in career strikeouts (164) and career ERA (2.65). Shannon Linerud put herself in the top five for career doubles (19) and triples (5). Daisy Mettlach's season and career slugging percentages (.487) placed her second in the Bronco recordbooks.
