Bakersfield, Calif. - Santa Clara traveled to CSU Bakersfield this weekend, winning the final game in the four-game series 6-3 to end the weekend 3-1. On Saturday, the Broncos fell 3-1 and 5-4, and the first game Sunday ended 4-2 in favor of the Roadrunners.
Santa Clara moves to 6-30, 3-5 PCSC and next travels to Saint Mary's for 12 p.m. doubleheaders on April 13 and 14. The win at Bakersfield is the first road win for Santa Clara this season.
Kicking off the weekend, Santa Clara wasted no time getting on the board in game one with Stephanie Fisher launching a lead-off home run in the top of the first. That was all the scoring SCU would do, as the Roadrunners would go on to score one run in the bottom of the third and two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Fisher recorded two hits and Casandra Padilla, Kelly Scribner and Breezy Bernard notched one apiece.
Broncos starter, Carissa Theis, the Pitcher of the Week in the PCSC for week 9, pitched six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out five.
In game two, Santa Clara started off the same, driving in a run to open the game. Fisher led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Scribner roped a single down the left field line which was enough to plate Fisher.
The Roadrunners would answer in the bottom of the third. With one out and two runners on, Shay Fryer doubled to center field, scoring Laura King and Karissa Veiga.
Santa Clara answered, trying the game in the top of the fourth. Scribner got on with a single up the middle and advanced on a Brenard sacrifice bunt. Jordan Newell singled to left field, moving Scribner to third. With the bases loaded, Ciara Gonzales flied out to left which was deep enough to plate Scribner.
The Roadrunners matched the one run Santa Clara scored in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth.
Santa Clara's run in the bottom of the fifth came off a rally started by a Jamie Wallis single up the middle and a sacrifice bunt from Ashley Haney to move Wallis to second. Rochelle Rivera followed with a single of her own, moving Wallis to third. With runners on the corners, Fisher grounded out to the shortstop, but it was enough to drive in Wallis.
Tied at 3-3 to start the sixth, Santa Clara scored one run with Scribner leading off with a single and being moved around on a fielder's choice throwing error. On third, Wallis connected with a single to bring home Scribner.
Bakersfield would score in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead and Santa Clara could not respond in the top of the seventh.
On the second day of action, Santa Clara fell 4-2 in the first game.
CSU Bakersfield scored one run in the bottom of the third, but freshman shortstop Padilla crushed a two-run shot over the center field wall in the top of the fifth, scoring Fisher who was on first.
Gonzales started in the circle for Santa Clara, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits, while striking out one.
In the final game of the weekend, Santa Clara jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with Padilla launching her second home run of the day, a solo shot to center field.
The Broncos added two runs in the fourth. With Chiara Biagni on second and Scribner on third, Rivera doubled to left center, bringing them both home for 2 RBI.
The Broncos weren't done; up 3-0, the largest lead Santa Clara had all weekend, SCU added another run in the fifth off a Scribner single up the middle. She brought home Padilla, who reached on a single down the right field line and moved to second on a successful steal attempt.
Bakersfield was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits.
Santa Clara, up 4-3, added two more runs in the top of the sixth, with Fisher and Rivera coming in to score off a Padilla single up the middle, which would hold for the 6-3 win.
