Santa Clara, Calif. – Santa Clara softball fell to San Jose State 4-0 Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game at SJSU Field. Santa Clara falls to 5-27 overall, 3-25 in non-PCSC play.
Santa Clara travels to CSU Bakersfield this weekend, April 6-7 to resume PCSC play in a four-game set vs. the Roadrunners. Both days feature doubleheaders that start at 12 p.m. CSU Bakersfield is 7-22 overall, 3-5 in PCSC action. Karissa Veiga leads the Roadrunners with a .272 batting average, with nine runs, 22 hits and two RBI. They also split their four-game set with LMU, as the Broncos did last weekend.
"Last year was a battle with Bakersfield, and we ended splitting the series. They are a very comparable team to us," said head coach Lisa Mize of the upcoming series. "Building off of LMU, Carissa was hot in her pitching so hopefully we will be able to keep some consistency on the mound with her and some other pitchers. Our goal is to score a lot of runs; increase our runs scored."
The Broncos, down 4-0 through five at SJSU, led off the top of the sixth with a double from Kelly Scribner, who would advance to third on a blooper of a hit from Chiara Biagini. Jenna Krummen moved Biagini to second, and with two out, Krista Jensen struck out swinging, ending the rally.
Ciara Gonzales, in her eighth start this season, walked the first two batters she saw, and after giving up a base hit to load the bases, the Spartans were able to plate the first run of the game on a fielding error by Broncos shortshop Casandra Padilla. Gonzales struck out Jessie Hufstetler and forced Annica Wolfe to hit into a double play to get out of the inning. She ended the afternoon allowing six hits, four runs and four walks, while striking out three.
"It was nice to see Ciara come out and throw a good game," said Mize. "She kept us in the game good enough to get a win. It was nice to get out of the monotony of practice during the week and San Jose State is a good team. It could have been a one-run ballgame if we eliminated the errors in key moments."
Padilla's error, her first of the season, was uncustomary of the freshman shortstop, whose performance against LMU four days ago was honored as a top performance in the PCSC. She worked through the rest of the game error-free but was denied a hit at the plate, ending her five-game streak.
Krummen beat the throw to first for the Broncos first hit of the game with one out in the top of the second, but was caught stealing second with two out to end the top of the second.
Spartans starter Amanda Pridmore opened the third nailing Stephanie Fisher in the back, the 10th time Fisher has reached due to a hit-by-pitch. Scribner reached on an error, and with two out, Krummen was unable to continue the rally, popping out to the shortstop.
San Jose State added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Markesha Collins singling up the middle to score Michelle Cox, and Hufstetler flied out to left field, scoring Collins. Casey Watt, in as a pinch-hitter, added a single of her own, scoring Madison Fish.
Pridmore ended the day allowing four hits and no runs, but walked one and struck out five.
