SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Looking for its first sweep of the season, Santa Clara softball topped LMU by a final of 11-4. The Broncos are now 10-31 overall and 5-7 in WCC play while the Lions are 20-27 overall and 1-13 in conference play.
Santa Clara returns to the field Sat., May 10 at 12 p.m. vs. San Diego at the Softball Field.
Ciara Gonzales (5-16) started for Santa Clara and picked up a no-decision in 1.0 inning. Jessica Turner (3-10) got the win in 6.0 innings out of the bullpen while allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts. Jordan Newell was 3-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI to lead the offense. Krista Jensen was 2-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI while Cassandra Padilla was 1-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Andy Wellins (1-1) started for LMU and picked up a loss in 6.0 innings. Wellins allowed seven runs, six earned, on six hits with six walks and two strikeouts. Amanda Dirks was 1-2 with a two-run homer to lead the offense. Meghan Von Behren was 2-3 with a home run while Sterling Shuster was 1-3 with an RBI.
LMU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Von Behren launched a one-out homer to center field.
Santa Clara answered back with a four-spot in the top of the second to take the lead for good. Jenna Krummen reached on a one-out error and Jensen followed with a single. Newell came up and singled in the first run of the inning. Padilla followed with a three-run bomb to make it 4-1 Broncos.
A lead-off single set up a two-run shot for Dirks that made the score 4-3 after two innings.
Scribner started the third with a walk and pinch-runner Amanda Delfino moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Krummen followed with a walk and Jensen knocked in a run with a double. Newell followed with a two-RBI single to center to get the Bronco lead out to 7-3.
After two batters in the top of the fourth, Santa Clara had runners on the corners and Scribner hit a sac fly. A single and a walk loaded the bases and Santa Clara scored on a ground out and a passed ball to push the lead to seven runs.
The Lions made the score 10-4 in the bottom of the fifth but Newell got the run back in the top of the seventh with a lead-off solo home run. Turner got LMU 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to close out the weekend sweep.