March 4, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team picked up their second win of the season Sunday against UC Davis in their final game of the inaugural Bronco Stampede. A strong offensive effort in the top of the first inning set the tone and the Broncos defense held strong to preserve the win.
Angela Kabanuck got things started with a single to right, and Nicole Picard sacrificed her to second, setting the table for Alyc Kalamaha. A single by Kalamaha scored Kabanuck and the Broncos had an early 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Meghan Chavez put the ball over the fence, a two-run home run to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead after their first at-bat.
Jackie Morales got the start in the circle for the Broncos, and retired six of the first seven batters she faces. UC Davis put the ball in play and the Broncos defense kept runners out of scoring position.
In the third inning, Kalamaha took one for the team and then set herself up to score another run after stealing a base. Morales then sent a shot to left field. Not only did the left fielder misplay what was a routine flyball, the centerfielder mishandled the ball when she attempted to make a play, allowing Morales to advance all the way to third, scoring Kalamaha from first.
Then in the fourth inning, Angela Kabanuck blasted a solo home run to increase the Broncos lead to 5-0. Kabanuck finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Broncos kept the game interesting in the sixth, after a fielding error by Ashley Grove and three consecutive hits up the middle. But then with runners on first and third with one out and two runs in, Kabanuck and Grove linked up to nail a greedy runner at third base. Though a run scored on the play, that was all Davis would get, as the Broncos held on for their second win of the season.