SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Finishing up its trip to Utah with a conference doubleheader, Santa Clara softball topped BYU 2-1 in game one and dropped game two by a final of 5-0. The Broncos are now 6-25 on the season and 2-4 in WCC play while the Cougars are now 19-21 and 4-2 in conference action.
Santa Clara returns to the field Tues., April 15 at 3 p.m. at Cal.
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (3-9) tossed a complete game to get the win. Gonzales allowed one run on three hits. Kelly Scribner was 1-3 with a home run to lead the offense. Gianetta France had an RBI while Amanda Delfino scored a run.
Tori Almond (3-6) started for BYU and picked up a loss in 7.0 innings. Almond allowed two runs, one earned, on four this with seven strikeouts. Ashlee Robinson was 2-2 with a home run to lead the offense. Sydney Broderick was 1-3 while Katie Manuma was 0-2 with a walk.
Breezy Bernard led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle and Delfino came in to pinch-run. Chiara Biagini grounded out for the second out of the inning but Delfino was able to move into scoring position. After a passed ball moved the runner to third, France singled to right to give Santa Clara the 1-0 lead.
Robinson led off bottom of the sixth with a solo home run down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1. The next three Cougars went down in order to end the inning.
After two quick groundouts in the top of the seventh, Scribner stepped to the plate and blasted a homer to center to put the Broncos on top 2-1.
A two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh didn't hurt Gonzales as she retired the next batter to give Santa Clara the win.
Game 2
Gonzales (3-10) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 3.0 innings. Gonzales allowed three runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Stephanie Fisher and Biagini picked up the two Bronco hits while Scribner and Biagini each has two walks.
McKenna Bull (10-9) started for BYU and picked up the shutout. Bull allowed two hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Broderick was 2-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored to lead the offense. Gordy Bravo was 1-2 with an RBI while Manuma was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI.
With one down in the bottom of the third Carly Duckworth singled to short and Robinson walked. Broderick came through with an RBI double to centerfield that ended the day for Gonzales. Jessica Turner came in to pitch and walked Lauren Bell on a wild pitch that allowed a run to score and put runners on the corners. Bravo hit a sac fly for the third run of the inning. Ashley Thompson walked and Manuma followed with an RBI single up the middle to make the score 4-0 BYU.
After BYU added another run in the bottom of the sixth, Scribner drew a walk with one down in the top of the seventh. Biagini singled to short to put two on for the Broncos but the next two batters went down to give BYU the win.
