April 7, 2007
MORAGA, Calif. - The Broncos capped their first weekend of conference play in specatular fashion, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, including a walkoff grand slam by Nori Kamada to beat the St. Mary's Gaels by a final score of 8-7. Jerrica Castagno pitched all seven innings and picked up her third win of the season.
The Gaels carried their momentum from their 10-1 victory in game one, and scored three runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, consecutive singles put the Gaels ahead 2-0. An ensuing error allowed the third to score.
After sending the Broncos back to the field quickly in the bottom of the inning, St. Mary's added two more runs in the second on three more singles and a fielders choice.
The Gaels continued to keep the Broncos off the bases, sending them down in order in the second and third innings. But Castagno was up to the task, doing the same to St. Mary's in the third and fourth.
Then in the fourth, the Broncos finally got going. Singles by Nicole Picard, Jackie Morales and Sara Overmier narrowed the Gaels lead to 5-2.
St. Mary's kept the pressure on, stealing a sixth run after a double, two singles and an error in the fifth inning. But Santa Clara responded with a run of their own. With two out and the bases empty, Kamada launched her fourth home run of the season, bringing the score to 6-3. St. Mary's just wouldn't back down, hitting a solo home run of their own in the top of the sixth, making the score 7-3.
After 1-2-3 innings for the Broncos in the bottom of the sixth and for the Gaels in the top of the seventh, Santa Clara was down to their final three outs, down by four.
Overmier got the Broncos started with a double to right field. Emily Batt singled, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Pinch hitter Britney Sanford reached base on a fielders choice in which the Gaels failed to make an out, loading the bases. Freshman Breann Netto walked, bringing in a run and narrowing the lead to 7-4. With the bases still loaded, Kamada came to the plate. Kamada launched her second home run of the game, clearing the bases with a walk-off grandslam to give the Broncos an 8-7 victory.
With the victory, the Broncos are now 9-34, 2-2. Next weekend, Santa Clara will host the University of San Diego at Marsalli Park. On Saturday, April 14 the doubleheader will begin at 12:00 noon, and Sunday, April 15 games will begin at 11:00 a.m.