Bronco Softball Falls to Saint Mary's in "Pink" Game

Bronco Softball Falls to Saint Mary's in "Pink" Game

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Wrapping-up its first home conference series of the year with a "pink" game, Santa Clara softball fell to Saint Mary's by a final of 4-1. The Broncos are now 7-30 on the season and 2-7 in WCC play while the Gaels are now 22-22 overall and 8-4 in conference action.

Santa Clara returns to the field Thurs., May 1 at Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m.

Ciara Gonzales (4-15) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 7.0 innings. Gonzales allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. Stephanie Fisher was 1-3 with a solo home run to lead the offense. Kelly Scribner was 2-3 while Cassandra Padilla was 1-3 with a double.

Lujane Mussadi (13-11) started for Saint Mary's and picked up a win in 5.0 innings. Mussadi allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Katie Moss picked up her third save with 2.0 innings out of the bullpen. Loralie Fitzpatrick was 1-3 with a two-run home run to lead the offense. Erica Musgrave was 2-3 with a run scored while Andrew Hazel was 1-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.

With one out in the bottom of the second France smoked a single to left field for the first base runner of the game. On the next pitch Mussadi got an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Monika Reichhardt singled to left with one down in the top of the third and moved up the second on a sacrifice bunt. Brittany Sabatini hit a grounder to third but it went right through the fielder's legs and the run came in to score. Musgrave kept the inning going with a single to center that put runners on the corners but Gonzales got a fly ball to center for the third out.

Fisher led off the bottom of the fourth with a bomb to center field that tied the game. After an out was recorded, Scribner singled through the left side but a pair of fielder's choices ended the inning with the score now tied 1-1.

The sixth started with a single up the middle by Musgrave. Hazel followed with an RBI double to right center that put the Gaels back on top. After a ground out, Fitzpatrick homered to left center to make it a 4-1 Saint Mary's lead.

Breezy Bernard walked on four pitches with one out in the bottom of the sixth and was lifted for pinch-runner Krista Jensen. Scribner followed with an infield single and Rochelle Rivera came in to pinch-run. The next two batters went down to end the inning without a run coming across.

Padilla started the bottom of the seventh with a double down the left field line on a pitch at her eyes. Moss got the next two batters but pinch-hitter Chiara Biagini worked a 13-pitch at-bat for a walk to bring up Fisher representing the tying run but she popped out to end the game.