April 29, 2007
PORTLAND, Ore. - After a disappointing 14-2 loss in game one of Sunday's doubleheader, the Broncos tried to get their bats going early in game two. After taking a 3-1 lead after the first inning, the Broncos gave up seven unanswered runs before striking back, and were defeated by a final score of 8-4.
Junior Jackie Morales got the start, and fell into a 1-0 hole after giving up a double with a runner on first.
But in the bottom of the first inning, the Broncos took care of business. A leadoff single by Nori Kamada and a walk by Breann Netto set the table for Angela Kabanuck. A fielders choice retired Kamada at third, leaving it up to Sara Overmier. Overmier sent a home run over the fence in left field to give Santa Clara a 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately, in the second inning the Vikings posted three runs of their own. After a walk, a sacrifice and a single, Portland State had runners at the corners with one out. A foul throw down to second allowed the runner to score from third, and then after anotherh walk, and single to the gap in right center scored two more runs, giving Porland State a 4-3 lead.
In the second, third, and fourth innings, the Broncos bats went cold, while the Vikings continued to score. With two on and two out, a single down the leftfield line added two more runs in the third inning, while two errors in the fourth led to two more runs to extend the Vikings lead to 8-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
With one out, Ashley Grove put one over the fence in left field to narrow the score of 8-4.
In the fifth, Morales was replaced by Kaitlyn Rauschnot who had performed well in the late stages of the earlier game. Rauschnot retired the Vikings in order, again giving her team a chance to score some runs. But for a walk in the top of the sixth, the Vikings went down in order, culminating with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Broncos again came close to scoring some runs but were denied at home plate. With one out and bases loaded, Noelani Hoopii grounded out to the shortstop, who threw Overmier out at home plate, and then pinch hitter Jenn Clarke grounded out to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, Rauschnot again retired the Vikings quickly, giving up just one hit.
Trailing by four runs and down to their final three outs, the Broncos were unable to get a late rally started, and the game ended 8-4.
Santa Clara (12-43, 5-11) will conclude the 2007 season with a home series against Loyola Marymount next Saturday, May 5 at Marsalli Park, with games scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.