May 5, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Despite an outstanding pitching performance by freshman Lauren Passafuime, the Bronco softball team fell 2-1 in the second game of a doubleheader against Loyola Marymount on Saturday at Marsalli Park. Passafuime limited the powerful Lions to just four hits and two runs in the game. The Broncos grabbed an early 1-0 lead, but could not hold on as Christine Foley homered in the top of the sixth to give LMU the victory.
Game two got off to a good start for the Broncos as they took advantage of some wildness by Lions starter Tiffany Pagano. With one out, Breann Netto walked and moved to second on a groundout to the shortstop by Angela Kabanuck. Senior Sara Overmier, who leads the team in hitting in conference games, then hit an infield single to the shortstop to put runners on the corners. Pagano hit Meghan Chavez to load the bases and then walked Jackie Morales after a long at-bat to force home a run. Jennifer Clarke pinch hit for Ashley Blier, but she hit a ground ball to third to end the inning.
Passafuime had her toughest inning of the early going in the second after hitting Kylie Conroy to lead off the frame. Tracy Cook laid down a sacrifice bunt to send Conroy to second. Megan Ackerman singled and took second on the throw to put runners on second and third with only one out. The Broncos freshman pitcher, however, showed her toughness by inducing a ground ball back to the mound from Chelsie Tysdal followed by a ground out to Chavez at shortstop to end the inning.
Despite allowing some base runners, both pitchers cruised through the middle innings as only two runners advanced passed first base between the second and sixth innings. Passafuime faced only 10 batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
The sixth frame would prove to be decisive for the Lions. Kirsten Slouber singled to lead off the inning for LMU's third hit of the day. Two batters later, Foley blasted a home run to left that gave Loyola Marymount the lead at 2-1.
The Broncos managed just a single by pinch hitter Ashley Grove over the final two innings against Pagano, who improved to 19-8 on the year with the win.
Passafuime finished the game off with an impressive line of just four hits and no walks, but she fell to 1-6 on the season.
Santa Clara (12-45, 5-13 PCSC) finishes the season on Sunday, May 6 with two more games against Loyola Marymount at Marsalli Park. The doubleheader begins at 12 noon PT with the second game beginning 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first.