SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Playing the first of two midweek games, Santa Clara softball lost a close game to Cal by a final of 4-3. The Broncos are now 6-26 on the season while the Bears are now 22-17.
Santa Clara returns to the field Thurs., April 17 at 6 p.m. vs. Fresno State.
Ciara Gonzales (3-11) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 6.0 innings. Gonzales allowed four runs on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Stephanie Fisher hit for the cycle and scored two runs to lead the offense. Kelly Scribner was 1-3 with a home run while Cassandra Padilla added a double.
"Stephanie showed some real leadership today at the plate and showed what a threat we can be at the plate. She stayed patient and owned both pitchers. I'm really proud to see her have such a great day," said Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize about Fisher's day at the plate.
Nisa Ontiveros (9-7) started for Cal and picked up a no-decision in 3.0+ innings. Ontiveros allowed one unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts. Stephanie Trzcinski (7-7) picked up the win with 4.0 innings out of the bullpen. Kylie Reed was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the offense. Cheyenne Cordes was 2-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored while Victoria Jones was 1-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Cordes led off the bottom of the first with a double to left. After a fly out, Danielle Henderson and Breana Kostreba singled to left-center to load the bases. V. Jones followed with an RBI single to right to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead. Gonzales bounced back to get the next two outs.
Santa Clara was almost gifted a run on bad defense in the top of the third. Krista Jensen led off the top of the third with a strikeout but reached first on a dropped third strike. She moved to second on a fielder's choice and advanced to third with one out on a wild pitch. A pop out and groundout got Ontiveros out of the inning with the Bears still on top.
Fisher led off the top of the fourth with a triple that ended the day for Ontiveros. Trzcinski came in to pitch and got the first out via strikeout. Breezy Bernard hit a grounder to second but an error let the run come in to score and tied the game 1-1.
Cordes walked to start the bottom of the fifth but was erased o a fielder's choice. Henderson followed with a fielder's choice but was safe on the play. Another fielder's choice put runners at the corners and a walk to V. Jones laded the bases. The inning ended with Ashley Decker grounded out with the score still knotted up.
Fisher put Santa Clara on top with a solo homer to right center to lead off the sixth inning. After two fly outs, Scribner blasted a home run of her own to center to make the score 3-1 Broncos. Chiara Biagini and Jensen followed with singles but Santa Clara was unable to score again and took a two run lead to the bottom of the sixth.
Vanessa Alvarez doubled to left with one out in the bottom of the sixth for Cal. LaRisa Jones put runners on the corners with an infield single and Cordes singled to right to cut the deficit to just one. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and a single by Reed put Cal on top 4-3.
Pinch-hitter Jenna Krummen singled to right center with one out in the top of the seventh. Fisher singled to right to complete the cycle but Krummen was thrown out trying to advance to third. The game ended on a ground out to third.
