March 18, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team wrapped up play at the Capitol Classic in Sacramento against Iowa State, and it took ten innings to decide the winner. Jackie Morales went the distance for the Broncos, who didn't give up an earned run until the tenth inning.
In the third inning, both teams got on the scoreboard. Iowa State struck first and then in the bottom of the inning, Emily Batt hit her first home run of the season, tying the game at one-all.
The Broncos flirted with trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, an error, walk, two stolen bases and a passed ball put two in scoring position, but Morales got two consecutive strikeouts to retire the side. Then in the fifth, Morales gave up a double down the rightfield line, but pitched her way out of a jam to keep the score tied at 1-1.
Then in the sixth inning, Angela Kabanuck hit her team-leading eighth home run of the season to give the Broncos their first lead of the ballgame as they headed into the seventh inning.
Santa Clara got two quick outs and appeared to be on their way to victory for the second straight game. Two straight singles put runners on first and second base with two out. Then an error by freshman Alyc Kalamaha allowed the game-tying run to score. The Broncos stayed tough, and were able to throw out the other runner at home plate, to preserve the tie and end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Santa Clara benefitted from an error by Iowa State, but was unable to snag the winning run, sending the game into extra innings.
With the game tied in the eighth inning, both teams received the benefit of starting runners from second base. In the top of the eighth, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch was all it took to give Iowa State a 3-2 lead. Santa Clara replied with a run of their own thanks to a sacrifice by Kalamaha and a single by Nori Kamada, tying the game 3-3.
In the ninth, both teams came close to adding runs, but neither was successful.
Then in the tenth inning, things fell apart for the Broncos. A wild pitch put a runner at third base with nobody out. Smart play threw out the lead runner on a fielders choice and the Broncos were still alive. But a walk and another fielders choice loaded the bases with just one out. A double to the gap in right center scored all three runners. A single scored the runner from second and then another double scored the fifth run of the inning for Iowa State, who extended their lead to 8-3.
In the bottom of the tenth, the Broncos managed to score Breann Netto from second thanks to a groundball by Kalamaha and Kamada's second hit in extra innings, but strikeouts to Kabanuck and Overmier ended the game, 8-4 in ten innings.
With final exams scheduled for this week, the Santa Clara softball team (6-29) does not have any games scheduled for this week. Next up for the Broncos will be a doubleheader with San Jose State next Tuesday, March 27 at Marsalli Park beginning at 2:00 p.m.