April 18, 2009
MORAGA, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team fell in a pair of games at PCSC rival Saint Mary's College Saturday afternoon. The Broncos dropped a 2-0 decision in the early game and the Gaels took a 10-2 victory in the final game of the day. The Broncos (5-38, 0-10 PCSC) were led by freshman Briana Knight. The SCU outfielder went 2-for-5 with an RBI on the day.
In their early 2-0 loss to SMC, Santa Clara's defense kept the Gaels off the board for the first four innings. In the Broncos' strong outing, pitcher Kaitlyn Rauschnot gave up only five hits and threw three strikeouts in six innings pitched. The junior fell short in earning her second win of the season with Saint Mary's two game-winning runs in the fifth.
Offensively, SCU also tallied five hits including a double in the top of the fifth from Jenna Fong. While the Broncos managed to keep pace with SMC through the game, they could not pull out their first conference victory in 2009.
In the afternoon contest, SCU took a 1-0 lead, but Saint Mary's responded immediately with eight runs in the second and two additional runs in the following two innings to solidify a 2-0 day versus the Broncos.
Santa Clara's first run scored in the series kicked off the second game of the doubleheader. In the first, Megan Smith singled to left field and was advanced off a Kristin Welsh ground out. Briana Knight followed with a single up the middle to bring home M. Smith. It was the Bronco rookie's 35th hit of the season and 20th career RBI.
Four innings later, SCU scored their final run on the day. With runners on second and third, Breann Netto, who led off the Bronco lineup and played at first base for the first time this season, came to the plate. Netto reached first on an error from the Gaels third baseman and Jenna Fong, who was on third, came home to score a final Santa Clara run.
The Broncos look to earn their first conference victory of the season tomorrow when they close out the series versus SMC. SCU will take on the Gaels in a final doubleheader on Sunday, April 19. First pitch is set for noon.
