Feb. 25, 2009
DAVIS, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team suffered their fifth loss of the season to UC Davis, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon. After five scoreless innings, Briana Knight hit a double to score Nicole Picard, who was on first base. The Broncos' lone run of the day was the freshman outfielder's seventh career RBI. In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Davis, 8-3 overall, responded with four runs to prevent SCU, 1-5 overall, from earning their second win of the season.
"We played great for the first five-and-two-thirds innings," said head coach Lisa Mize. "Our downfall was we started to over think and play tight. This team has a lot of potential to do well if we can continue to improve and relax."
Jenna Fong pitched five solid scoreless innings, leaving five players on base and allowing only four hits. Her best inning came in the third, when all three batters hit into ground outs. In the bottom of the sixth, Fong had two outs and two runners on base, when the SCU lost control of the game. The Aggies' Kelly Harmon singled to right center to score Sarah Axelson and tie the game at one-all. Davis' next batter then singled to right field bringing home what would be the game-winning run, in a two RBI hit. Closing out UCD's four-run inning, was Jessica Gonzalez, who singled to center. Holmes scored an unearned run off a Bronco throwing error.
In a final offensive chance in the top of the seventh, Fong led off the inning with a walk. Freshman Kristin Welsh then grounded out to shortstop, advancing Fong's pitch runner Breann Netto to second. With one out and a runner on base, Noelani Ho'opi'i struck out and Emily Batt ended the inning with a ground out.
Santa Clara looks to bounce back this weekend as they travel to Southern California to participate in the San Diego State Invitational from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1. The Broncos will take on Utah, Colorado State, Missouri and hosts San Diego State during the three day tournament.
