SAN DIGEO, Calif. – Similar to Saturday's doubleheader, San Diego was able to rally back and claim a 10-inning affair against visiting Santa Clara in Game Two, allowing the Toreros to post a four-game sweep of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) series by winning 7-0 and 5-4 (10) Sunday.
Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15 - USD Softball Complex (San Diego, Calif.)
SAT - San Diego 8, Santa Clara 0 - FINAL
SAT - San Diego 3, Santa Clara 2 - FINAL (10 innings)
SUN - San Diego 7, Santa Clara 0 - FINAL
SUN - San Diego 5, Santa Clara 4 - FINAL (10 innings)
Santa Clara (8-36; 2-10 PCSC) is now 2-11 this season in one-run games following the two extra-inning losses this weekend. Alyssa Jepsen went 4 for 4 in Game Two Sunday, including hitting a single and scoring during a three-run first inning for SCU.
The Broncos had led 3-0 before San Diego (23-13; 10-2 PCSC) bounced back to tie the game in the third and after the game drew even again at 4-4 in the fifth it was a pitcher's duel from there as USD reliever Cassidy Coleman and Santa Clara starter Jessica Turner held each other's respective offenses in check for the next four innings.
It wasn't until the top of the 10th when the international tie-breaker rules took effect that the stalemate was broken. USD's Katie Emerson dropped a single into center field to lead off the inning. Two batters later Dana Prelsnik ripped a shot toward Jepsen at short, which drove in the go-ahead run.
Santa Clara had runners on first and third with one out before Coleman worked out of the jam by inducing consecutive popups to end the game and pick up the win.
The Toreros had cruised to a 7-0 victory in the opener behind the pitching of Jenny Lahitte, who tossed her sixth-consecutive complete game and extended her scoreless streak to 21.0 innings.
Jepsen went 10 for 16 (.625 BA) during the four-game series for Santa Clara.
Santa Clara will face No. 1 Cal Wednesday at 3 p.m., then host its first PCSC series when rival St. Mary's visits West Valley College Saturday and Sunday.
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