Feb. 16, 2007
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team ended a tough first day at the Stanford Invitational with a 9-2 loss to host Stanford. Despite keeping the game within reach for most of the game, two big innings for Stanford made the difference as the Broncos fell to 0-7.
After Jackie Morales came out and retired the Cardinal 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Stanford had a big inning in the 2nd, capitalizing on three walks and two doubles to take a 3-0 lead.
After grabbing a fourth run in the 3rd after Jerrica Castagno replaced Morales in the circle, Santa Clara capitalized on some mistakes by Stanford. Noelani Hoopii got the rally started with a single, and Alyc Kalamaha and Morales both walked, setting the table for Meghan Chavez. Chavez hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Tagging from third was Hoopii who scored on the play, and Kalamaha, who had advanced to third on the throw scored on an error by the catcher.
But 4-2 was as close as the Broncos would get. Stanford snuck insurance runs in in the 4th and 6th innings, and then put the game away in the 7th with some strong hitting. Sara Overmier, who replaced Castagno in the top of the 6th did well to get the final out and then was unlucky in the 7th. After a lead-off single, the Broncos gave away an out by allowing a runner to advance on a dropped third strike. A couple of consecutive hits scored three more runs for Stanford.
In the last of the 7th, Overmier tried to get things going and had a nice single up the middle, but with two outs in the bottom of the 7th it was too late. The Broncos will resume play in the Stanford Invitational Saturday against Missouri at 10:00 a.m. from the Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium. Depending on the result of the game with Missouri, Santa Clara will play a second game at either 2:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m.