SANTA CLARA, Calif. -  Santa Clara University's softball team will travel to Sacramento to take part in the 2011 Capital Classic this weekend, Friday through Sunday, March 18-20. The tournament field includes Santa Clara, Sacramento State University, Towson University and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

2011 Capital Classic
Dates: Friday, Mar. 18, Saturday, Mar. 19 and Sunday, Mar. 20, 2011
Host: Sacramento State
Field (4 teams): Santa Clara, Sacramento State, Towson and University of Illinois-Chicago
Site: Sacramento State's Shea Stadium
College Town Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826
Tickets: All-Tournament Pass: $20 per adult, $10 for youth (13-17)
Games on Friday and Saturday: $10 per adult, $5 for youth
Games on Sunday: $5 per adult, $3 for youth
Website: Capital Classic Tournament Central

Tournament Schedule
Friday, Mar. 18
10 a.m. UIC vs. Towson
12:15 p.m. Santa Clara vs. Sacramento State
2:30 p.m. Towson vs. Santa Clara
Saturday, Mar. 19
10 a.m. UIC vs. Sacramento State
12:15 p.m. Santa Clara vs. UIC
2:30 p.m. Towson vs. Sacramento State
Sunday, Mar. 20
9:00 a.m. Santa Clara vs. UIC
11:15am Towson vs. Sacramento State

Santa Clara (4-9) will look to erase a three-game losing streak Friday afternoon when they take on tournament host Sacramento State. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. It's the first of four games for the Broncos at the tournament, playing Towson later in the day on Friday, then Illinois-Chicago in single games on Saturday and Sunday.

The Broncos are led by all-conference junior outfielder Briana Knight. Knight boasts a team-leading .406 batting average. She also leads the team in hits (13), total bases (25) and slugging percentage (.781). Knight was teriffic last weekend at SCU's own Bronco Classic, playing flawless defense in centerfield, hitting .455, driving-in three runs and belting a homerun.

Freshman pitcher Jessica Turner (pictured) is likely to receive the bulk of the innings within the circle. Turner pitched 10-plus innings in two starts last weekend in Hayward, striking out a season-high six batters en route to going down as the winning pitcher against Albany Friday night.

Look for the Bronco lineup to break out of a three-game hitting slump, which saw SCU score just one run in the final three games of the Bronco Classic. SCU's team batting average is .227, with Knight (406 BA), 1B Kelly Scribner (.296 BA) and OF Stephanie Fisher (.265 BA) each owning 8-plus hits through 13 games.

Sacramento State (6-10) comes into the Capital Classic having won three of five including two wins over Utah State. The Hornets - who also compete in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) - are paced offensively by Emily McCormick who leads the team in RBI (10) and total bases (21). Sacramento State's primary starters are Taylor Stroud (4-3); 0.95 ERA in 51.1 innings) and Megan Schaefer (2-3; 1.95 ERA in 28.2 innings). Sac State finished second in the PCSC last season with a 13-7 conference record.

Towson (9-12) is 7-12 away from home and is coming off an 11-6 win over Cleveland State in the Winthrop Addidas Invitational. The Tigers primary starters are Dominique Ortega (2-6; 2.73 ERA in 51.1 innings) and Katie Lingmai (6-5; 2.88 ERA in 77.2 innings). Towson finished the 2010 season 33-22 and 10-11 (4th) in the Colonial Athletic Association.

UIC (6-12) is coming off a 1-3 performance in the Saluki Invitational (Southern Illinois University). Their starters are Devin Miller (3-9; 3.49 ERA in 86.1 innings) and Ashley Hewett (3-3; 4.96 ERA in 24 innings). UIC was 22-35 last season and 15-9 (3rd) in the Horizon League.