March 9, 2007
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team's three-game winning streak came to an end Friday with a 14-2 loss at the hands of Northern Iowa to to open the NIST, hosted by San Jose State University at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale, Calif. Angela Kabanuck and Nori Kamada each went 2-for-3, with Kamada hitting her third home run of the season and scoring both Bronco runs.
Two errors in the top of the first inning helped Northern Iowa jump out to an early 4-0 lead. Santa Clara would bounce back, however. Kabanuck singled to lead off the game, and after Kamada reached on a fielders choice and then stole second base, Meghan Chavez singled up the middle to narrow the lead to 4-1.
Senior Sara Overmier had a tough second inning as well. Northern Iowa took advantage of every opportunity, including stealing home on a passed ball. Then, with one out and runners on first and second, Stephanie Aguero doubled to right center, scoring two more runs extending the lead to 7-1.
Northern Iowa's Jen Larsen kept the Broncos off the bases most of the day, and Overmier and freshman Kaitlyn Rauschnot struggled to do the same. In the top of the third inning, Northern Iowa tacked on five more runs with the help of three more errors, extending their lead to 12-1.
In the fourth inning, Rauschnot sent the Panthers down in order, a very encouraging sign, however the damage had already been done. In the top of the fifth, Northern Iowa snuck two more runs after yet another error, Santa Clara's seventh of the game.
In their last chance to score some runs, Nori Kamada launched a home run to left field off relief pitcher Liz Adams, her third of the season, but that was all they could manage, and the game ended 14-2.
Santa Clara (4-20) resumes play at the NIST this afternoon against Iowa State beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale, Calif.