April 28, 2007
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Santa Clara softball team travelled to Portland to face Portland State and opened the series with a 2-1 victory over the Vikings. In what was a low-scoring game, the teams traded runs in the third inning before sophomore Noelani Hoopii broke the tie in the fifth with a solo home run which ended up as the game-winner.
Game one was very much a pitcher's duel. Junior Jackie Morales went all seven innings and struck out five and didn't issue any walks while allowing only one run, a solo home run to lead off the third inning.
In the third inning, freshman Nicole Picard got the Broncos started with a single to right field. Nori Kamada's double to left center scored Picard from first base to give Santa Clara a 1-0 lead.
Following a solo home run by Portland State to lead off the bottom of the inning, the game was knotted up at 1-1.
Then in the top of the fifth inning, Santa Clara responded with a leadoff solo home run of their own, this time by Hoopii, to give Santa Clara a 2-1 lead.
The Broncos got two quick outs in the bottom of the inning before flirting with trouble. An infield single and then a hit batsman prolonged the fifth inning before the Broncos finally got the third out.
In the sixth inning, Morales retired the side in order and in the seventh, gave up just one hit before getting three straight outs to seal the 2-1 victory. With the victory, the Broncos improved to 12-40 overall, and 5-9 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference.