SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball fell to Grand Canyon by a final of 7-1 on the second day of the Santa Clara Marriott Round Robin. The Broncos are now 4-18 on the season while the Lopes are now 13-15.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow, Sun., March 23 at 12:30 p.m. vs. Grand Canyon and at 3 p.m. vs. Cal.
Ciara Gonzales (1-7) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 4.0 innings. Gonzales allowed five runs, one earned, on 11 hits with one strikeout and no walks. Cassandra Padilla was 2-2 with a solo homerun to lead the offense. Stephanie Fisher was 1-2 while Geenamarie Bonilla was 1-1.
Stephanie Pesqueira (6-7) started for Grand Canyon and picked up the complete game win. Pesqueira allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts. Haley Walker was 4-5 with two runs scored to lead the offense. Pesqueira was 2-4 with a double and a run scored while Claire Zampini was 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Grand Canyon struck first in the top of the first. Walker led off with a single to left and moved up to third after a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Lauren Regester knocked in the run with a single to left.
The Lopes added another run after two were out in the top of third. Camree Wartman doubled to center and Pesqueira followed with an infield single. The flip to first on the single got away and allowed Wartman to score to make it a 2-0 game.
Zampini and Walker led off the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles for the Lopes. Kayla Henry laid down a bunt that went for a single but the throw to first went wide and allowed a run to come in. Henry promptly stole second on the next pitch and the throw went into centerfield to let the second run of the inning come in. Kelsey Barak followed with an RBI single up the middle to make the score 5-0.
Padilla led off the bottom of the sixth with an opposite field home run to right to get the Broncos on the board. With one down Rochelle Rivera singled to third and advanced on a throwing error but was stranded at second.
Grand Canyon added two runs in the top of the seventh to get on top 7-1. In the bottom of the inning Breezy Bernard led off with a double to the wall in center. The next three batters went down in order to end the game.