LONG BEACH, Calif. – Opening its 2014 season, Santa Clara softball fell 6-0 to No. 14 Kentucky and 8-0 to Long Beach State in five innings in the first day of the Long Beach State Tournament. The Broncos are now 0-2 on the young season. They return to the field tomorrow, Fri., Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m. vs. Kent State.
Game 1
Jessica Turner (0-1) picked up the loss for Santa Clara in 4.0 innings pitched. Turner allowed five hits, three runs, four walks, and had one strike out. The Broncos were no-hit but Chiara Biagini and Stephanie Fisher both reached on hit-by-pitches while Fisher stole a base.
Kelsey Nunley (1-0) tossed a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks to pick up her first win of the season. Griffin Joiner led the offense while going 2-2 with two home runs, two walks, and three RBI. Christian Stokes went 3-4 with two doubles, a run, and a RBI while Emily Gaines was 2-2 with an RBI after coming in as a pinch hitter.
The two teams remained scoreless through the first three innings with Santa Clara escaping a jam in the first with a double play lineout. The Wildcats threatened again in the second but Turner pitched around the trouble.
In the top of the fourth Turner got the first two outs of the inning without trouble but three doubles in a row led to two runs. A ground out to short finally ended the inning.
Kentucky added two runs in the top of the fifth and the top of the sixth to get out on top 6-0. Neither team scored in the seventh and the Wildcats held on for the win.
Game 2
Ciara Gonzales (0-1) got the loss in her first start of the season. Gonzales threw 1.2 innings while surrendering five runs on six hits and a walk. Kelly Scribner, Ashley Haney, and Amanda Delfino each picked up one hit to lead the Santa Clara offense.
Amanda Hansen (1-0) picked up the win while throwing 5.0 shutout innings with three hits allowed. Hannah De Gaetano led the offense while going 2-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Ashlynn Booker and Karli Sandoval each added two RBI apiece.
Santa Clara threatened in the top of the first after two were out. Fisher was hit by a pitch and Scribner singled to left to put two runners on. Breezy Bernard was unable to come through and grounded out to end the inning.
Long Beach State got out in front early with a three-spot in the bottom of the first. Cya Neal singled to left with one down and moved to third on a single to center by De Gaetano. After Leilani Tupua-Tautalafua walked to load the bases, Sandoval doubled to right field to know in the first two runs of the game. A fielder's choice led to the other run of the inning.
De Gaetano came up with a two out, two RBI single in the bottom of the second to end the day for Gonzales. Turner came in and got a fly ball to left to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth Santa Clara got its first two runners on with singles from Haney and pinch-hitter Delfino. Kimberly Goulart hit into a 1-5-3 double play and Rochelle Rivera grounded out to third to end the threat for the Broncos.
The 49ers would add three more runs and hold on for the win in five innings.
