Feb. 27, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After one day of play at the San Diego Classic I, the Santa Clara softball team fell, 2-1, to University of Utah at the San Diego State Softball Stadium Friday afternoon. The Broncos' were edged by a run in their lone game of the day, after rallying back in the top of the fifth inning to bring the game within one. Catcher Emily Batt scored SCU's solo run of the day, after Jackie Nicora hit a fielder's choice, advancing Batt to third and then home off a Utah throwing error.
Santa Clara, 1-6 overall, pitcher Jenna Fong came in the game in the second inning with two Utes runs on the board. Fong, who has been an overall asset to the Bronco lineup, pitched four fantastic innings. The sophomore pitcher allowed only two hits in 14 faced batters and threw one strikeout. She forced eight batters to hit into play outs and left three on base in her fifth no decision of the season. The Sacramento, Calif. native, who did not pitch a game in her freshman campaign, has been a major asset in head coach Lisa Mize's bullpen. This season she leads the SCU pitchers with 20.2 innings pitched and one complete game. She's compiled four strikeouts in eight appearances this season.
Posting her fifth and sixth career hits was junior transfer Megan Smith, who led the Broncos with two hits. In the top of the first, the SCU second baseman singled to shortstop and leading off the fourth inning, she singled to second base. Lone senior, Noelani Ho'opi'i had Santa Clara's only other hit of the afternoon, with a single to shortstop in the fifth inning.
SCU matched up fairly evenly against the Utes, 8-9 overall, but were unable to overcome their one run deficit. Santa Clara looks to bounce back at day two of the Classic. They will take on Colorado State at 9 a.m. and conclude the day with Missouri at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.
