Stillwater, Okla. - Santa Clara traveled east this weekend to play in the Mizuno Classic, hosted by Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. The Broncos move to 2-17 on the season, and return home for three-game series with UC Santa Barbara on March 15 and 16.
"This was a rough weekend for us overall. Our team definitely did not play to its capability," said head coach Lisa Mize. "On a positive note Carissa pitched a great final game and we had some big hits from Stephanie Fisher and homeruns from Jordan Newell and Chiara Biagini. The talent is there. As team we recognize this and are working hard to put it all together. We had some good team talks and all are on the same page. We are looking forward to our games at home against UCSB this coming weekend."
Playing some tough competition, the Broncos went 0-6 on the weekend. Game summaries follow.
Game 1: Cleveland State Wins 7-1
The Broncos fell in the first game of the Mizuno Classic to Cleveland State, who scored one run in the second, but piled on five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third to take an early 6-0 lead. Santa Clara was unable to recover, but did see Stephanie Fisher record her first two hits of the tournament, as well as a fifth inning rally for the Broncos that drove across third baseman Jenna Krummen.
With Krummen on first from a walk, Rochelle Rivera grounded out on a sacrifice to advance her to second. Jamie Wallis followed with a sacrifice of her own, advancing Krummen to third, and Fisher singled to right field, plating Krummen and recording her seventh RBI of the season.
Tulsa native Jessica Turner started for the Broncos, giving up five hits and six runs while striking out two. Ciara Gonzales came on in relief, allowing three hits and one run with one stikeout.
Cleveland State starter Susan Knight worked through all seven innings, allowing five hits, one run and notching three strikeouts.
Game 2: Oklahoma State Wins 9-0 in Five Innings
Oklahoma State opened the top of the first by scoring five runs on five hits. Down 5-0 early, the Broncos battled back but were unable to score. Chiara Biagini notched a hit in the bottom of the first, which would be Santa Clara's only hit of the game. Oklahoma State poured on another four runs in the top of the third, off of four hits.
Santa Clara starter Carissa Theis worked through two-plus innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs while striking out two. Briana Rios came on in the third, and allowed no hits, no runs, but struk out three.
Oklahoma State starter Simone Freeman lasted all five innings, allowing one hit, no runs and striking out five.
Game 3: Northern Iowa Defeats Broncos 9-1 In Five Innings
In the second day of tournament action Santa Clara fell to Northern Iowa. NIU scored a quick three runs in the bottom of the first. The Panthers added four in the second and two in the third to end the game in five innings.
Santa Clara pushed across one run in the top of the fifth. Second baseman Krista Jensen started a one-run rally with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a passed ball. Jenna Krummen singled, moving Jensen to third. Rochelle Rivera followed with a single to left field, scoring Jensen.
Santa Clara starter Ciara Gonzales worked through two innings, giving up five hits and seven runs, while tallying three strikeouts. Briana Rios finished the game for the Broncos, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out two.
Panthers starter Jamie Fisher finshed the game for UNI, allowing five hits, one run and striking out three.
Game 4: Host Oklahoma State Wins 8-0 In Five Innings
Santa Clara was looking for a better showing against the host-team in the second day, but fell short again in five innings. Stephanie Fisher led off the game with a double, but the Broncos were unable to bring her home.
Oklahoma State answered with a six-run first, an inning which saw the Broncos give up three hits. The Cowgirls would add two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Santa Clara saw two hits from Fisher and one from Chiara Biagini.
Broncos starter Briana Rios pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs.
Oklahoma State starter Kat Espinsoa notched the win, allowing just three hits and striking out two. She was replaced by Simone Freeman, who pitched one inning for the Cowgirls, striking out three to end the game.
Game 5: Santa Clara Falls 2-1 To Northern Iowa
Santa Clara allowed just two runs across from UNI. The Panters opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, driving in one run on one hit.
Santa Clara responded in the top of the fourth. With two out, Chiara Biagini crushed her first homerun of the season, a solo shot over the left field wall. Panthers catcher Samantha Reimer saved the potentially game-winning run, gunning down Broncos' Jamie Wallis on a second-base steal attempt, before Biagini stepped to the plate and went yard.
The Panthers scored again in the bottom of the sixth, breaking the 1-1 deadlock. Reimer started the one-out rally with a double. Her pinch-runner, Samantha Olsen, advanced to third on a passed ball. With two out, Gina Brown doubled down the left field line, scoring Olsen.
Broncos starter Carissa Theis went the distance for Santa Clara, allowing four hits and two runs, tallying eight strikeouts.
Northern Iowa's starter Jamie Fisher allowed two hits and one run while striking out four.
Game 6: Santa Clara Downed by Oklahoma State, 13-3 in Mizuno Classic Finalee
In the final game of the Mizuno Classic, Santa Clara opened with a three-run first inning. Leadoff batter Stephanie Fisher ignited the Broncos offense with a single. Jamie Wallis used a sacrifice bunt to move Fisher to second, and Chiara Biagini singled to center field moving Fisher to third. With two out and runners on the corners, Jordan Newell homered, driving in two RBI and giving the Broncos a 3-0 lead over the hosts.
Oklahoma State would answer, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first off three hits. They added two runs in the bottom of the second, four runs in the bottom of the fourth, and three runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game after five innings.
Broncos starter Jessica Turner worked through three-plus innings and allowed eight hits and nine runs while striking out two. Ciara Gonzales came on in relief, pitching one inning and allowing three hits and four runs while striking out one.
The starter for the Cowgirls, Kat Espinosa, allowed three hits and two runs in two innings of work. She was relieved by Simone Freeman, who gave up two hits and struck out five.