March 9, 2010
Bronco third baseman Megan Smith has been named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coastal Division Player of the Week after leading the Broncos to a 2-1 record this past weekend. In the Coastal Division, Smith was named Player of the Week, while Cal State Bakersfield sophomore right-hander Sammy Rodriguez was named Pitcher of the Week.
Smith helped the Broncos to a 2-1 record at last weekend's Matador Classic, hosted by Cal State Northridge. She went 3-for-6 with one home run, two RBI and three runs scored. In the Broncos' 6-5 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, the Salinas, Calif.,-native went 2-for-2 with a home run and three runs scored. She hit a solo home run to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the 5-2 victory over Cal State Northridge, Smith drew a bases-loaded walk to break a 1-1 tie during a five-run second inning. In seven games this season, Smith is 3-for-12 at the plate with one home run and one RBI.
"This was a huge weekend for Megan because she had been struggling. She made some great adjustments this weekend, stayed composed and we really believed in her," said Bronco head softball coach Lisa Mize. "We played well this past weekend as a team and we hope to continue to build on that. I've told the team, even today at practice, that we have to get better every game. We have to keep improving as a team, and individually, and that starts at practice and then at UC Davis on Thursday."
Smith has started seven games this season and is hitting .250 with three hits, three runs, one home run, one walk and two RBIs.
Santa Clara plays a doubleheader at UC Davis on Thurs., March 11 before beginning play in the South Bay Super Series this weekend.
Rodriguez, from Salinas, Calif., went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two starts against Saint Mary's and Iowa. In the 8-3 win over the Gaels on Friday, Rodriguez struck out a career-high eight, while allowing three runs, two earned on four hits and one walk. She recorded her first career shutout in the 3-0 win over the Hawkeyes on Saturday, limiting Iowa to three hits and one walk, while fanning five. Rodriguez finished the weekend striking out 13 while waking two and limiting opponents to a .146 batting average in 14.0 innings of work. For the season, Rodriguez is 5-3 with a PCSC-leading 2.08 ERA in eight starts, all complete games. She also fanned 43 while issuing 12 walks in 57 1/3 innings. Her five wins also leads the conference and also ranks first in innings pitched, second in batting-average-against (.209) and fourth in strikeouts.
Scoggins had a torrid weekend at the plate, going 12-for-18 to post a .667 batting average in five games. She also had three doubles and five RBI, posting an .833 slugging percentage. The senior went a combined 8-for-8 with two doubles and five RBI in Portland State's wins over Southern Utah and UNLV on Friday. She went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the 9-0 victory over the Thunderbirds to open the Eller Media Stadium Classic. In 17 games this season, Scoggins is hitting a team-leading .358 with five doubles and five RBI.