Feb. 21, 2009
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In their first weekend of regular season competition, the Santa Clara softball team fell, 9-5, to Pacific, in the morning and was edged, 7-5, by CSU Bakersfield in the afternoon in Bakersfield, Calif. Briana Knight, who is hitting .400 in 10 at bats this season, had a standout day for SCU. The Bronco freshman tallied four hits, four RBIs, two runs and her first career home run on the day.
Versus Pacific, the Broncos earned an immediate 1-0 lead. Amanda Edmonson doubled to right field and brought leadoff hitter Noelani Ho'opi'i home. The Tigers responded immediately in the bottom of the first with four runs off of pitcher Jenna Fong. SCU got on the board again in the fourth inning off the bat of Catherine Surane, who's fielder's choice brought in Jeanine Ruffoni. It was the Bronco freshman's first career RBI. Going into the fifth inning down, 9-2, Santa Clara scored two runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to come within four runs. In the seventh, Knight hit a double to right field in the Bronco's comeback attempt. Edmonson was then walked and Ruffoni hit a ground out to second, advancing Knight to third and Edmonson to second. With two outs, Fong could not keep the inning alive as she struck out to conclude the game.
In the afternoon, against the Roadrunners of CSU Bakersfield, leadoff hitter Knight doubled to left field in the top of the first. Knight advanced to third base, when Ruffoni was caught out at first. With one out, Ho'opi'i came to the plate, and Bakersfield's pitcher Katie Chavez's ball passed catcher Misty Finlay, allowing Knight to come home and the Broncos to post a 1-0 lead. SCU's lead was short lived, as CSUB answered back with two runs.
Pitcher Lauren Passafuime and the Bronco defense had their best defensive inning of the day, flying out, grounding out and popping out the three Roadrunner batters in the bottom of the second.
In the fourth inning, Knight's fly out scored Emily Batt. Two batters later, Ruffoni singled to left field to score Nicole Picard to cut Bakersfield's lead to one run. The SCU defense could not keep the CSUB at bay, as Bakersfield scored three runs to extend their lead to, 7-3.
To lead off the sixth inning Knight hit her first career home run over the left field fence, to bring Santa Clara within three runs. In the top of the seventh, second baseman Megan Smith replaced Jackie Nicora in the lineup. The junior transfer doubled to left field to lead off the inning. Fong then walked and Knight singled to left field, advancing Smith to third base. Ruffoni popped up to the CSUB first baseman, to score Smith. With two outs, Edmonson struck out to conclude the game.
SCU, who tallied 20 hits on the day, looks to bounce back against Bakersfield on Sunday, as they play the Roadrunners at 10 a.m. and noon to close out the weekend in Central California.
