LONG BEACH, Calif. – With just one game on the second day of the season, Santa Clara softball fell to Kent State 4-2. The loss puts the Broncos at 0-3 overall while Kent State is now 2-0.
The Broncos begin play at the Easton Tournament tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. in the first of two games.
Jessica Turner (0-2) was credited with the loss for Santa Clara while throwing a complete game. Turner allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Rochelle Rivera led the Bronco offense by going 2-4 with a run scored. Kelly Scribner was 1-3 with a solo home run while Geenamarie Bonilla was 1-3 with a stolen base.
Janel Hayes (1-0) got the win for Kent State while throwing 5.0 innings with seven hits and one strikeout with one earned run allowed. Lauren McNeil picked up the save in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts. Shelbi Tilton led the offense while going 1-2 with a RBI and two walks. Kim Morgason was 1-2 with a triple and a RBI while Erika Warren was 1-3 with a RBI.
The Flash scored first in the top of the first to take the early 1-0 lead. Kim Kirkpatrick walked on four pitches to start the game and stole second with one down. She moved to third on a groundout and came in to score on an infield single to short by Tilton.
Another lead off walk came back to bite the Broncos in the top of the second. Lauren Kesterson walked and stole second before coming around to score on a triple to right by Morgason that made the score 2-0.
Santa Clara cut the Kent State lead in half in the bottom of the third. Stephanie Fisher reached with one out on an error and moved to second on a single by Rivera. Chiara Biagini loaded the bases with a single to left and was lifted for pinch runner Sarah Mosher. Scribner hit into a fielder's choice that saw Fisher gunned down at home but an error allowed a run to cross the plate.
After Kent State added a run in the fourth, Santa Clara made it a one run game again in the bottom of the sixth. Scribner led off the inning with a solo homer to left that made the score 3-2. Breezy Bernard followed with a single up the middle and eventually made it to third but was unable to score.
The Flash added a run in the top of the seventh and Santa Clara went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.