April 7, 2007
MORAGA, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team opened Pacific Coast Softball Conference play Friday against St. Mary's in Moraga with a big 7-2 win over the Gaels. Senior Sara Overmier went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs and Jackie Morales picked up her team-leading fifth win of the season.
It didn't take long for the Broncos to get their first run. After Nicole Picard swung at strike three, her heads-up play forced an error by the catcher, giving her first base. A stolen base and a passed ball put advanced her to third before, two batters later, Angela Kabanuck singled her home.
St. Mary's responded, however, with a single and a double back-to-back, scoring the runner all the way from first base to tie the score 1-1.
In theh second and third innings, strong pitching on both sides limited the number of batters. But then in the fourth, the Broncos started to flex their muscles. With one out, Morales roped a double down the leftfield line setting the table for Overmier, whose shot over the fence increase the Broncos lead to 3-1.
A quick fifth inning brought the meat of the Broncos lineup to the plate in the sixth. With two out, Morales reached on her second hit of the day, a single. Then back to back doubles by Overmier and Jerrica Castagno padded the Broncos lead and made it 5-1. For Castagno, it was her first RBI of the season.
Morales kept the Gaels at bay in the sixth and the Broncos came back for more in the seventh. Starting with freshman Breann Netto, four Broncos in a row put the ball in play and reached base, and then with runners on second and third, Ashley Bliers bouncer to second base resulted in an error, scoring two more runs and extending the lead to 7-1.
The Gaels would not go quietly, however. To lead off the last of the seventh, a solo home run reminded the Broncos that it wasn't over yet. And Morales took care of business, retiring the next three batters to earn her team-leading fifth win of the season. For the game, Morales had five strikeouts while only walking one batter. In addition, she was 2-for-4 at the plate with a single and a double.
The Broncos (8-32, 1-0) have three games remaining in their series with St. Mary's with one of them coming this afternoon.