PHOENIX, Ariz. – Kicking off the 2015 season, Santa Clara softball topped Northern Colorado by a final of 10-2 in six innings and fell to Tulsa 9-6. The Broncos are 1-1 on the young season.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. vs. Tulsa and Northern Colorado.
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (1-0) started for Santa Clara and picked up a win in 6.0 innings. Gonzales allowed two runs on six hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Gianetta France was 2-3 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the offense. Breezy Bernard was 3-4 with two RBI while Jenna Krummen was 1-3 with a run scored and two RBI.
Jayme Reddacliff (0-1) started for Northern Colorado and picked up a loss in 5.0-plus innings. Reddacliff allowed seven runs on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Erica Dick was 1-3 with a home run to lead the offense. Kaitlin Flynn was 2-2 with a walk while Nicole Hudson added an RBI.
Dick led off the game with a homer to centerfield to give the Bears the quick 1-0 lead. Gonzales bounced back with three straight outs, including a pair of punch outs.
Geenamarie Bonilla led off the bottom of the second with a walk and promptly stole second. She moved up to third on a ground out and came in to score on an RBI ground out by Krummen.
After two quick outs in the top of the third Northern Colorado went back on top by a run. Morgan Yuhas singled to right and another single by Jenna Jordan put runners on the corners. Hudson followed with an RBI single to center to make the score 2-1.
A four run fourth gave Santa Clara a lead it wouldn't give back. Bernard led off with a single and was pinch run for by Amanda Delfino. Bonilla singled to left to put runners on the corners and stole second to put two in scoring position. Jordan Newell singled in a run and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Back-to-back groundouts brought in two more runs and France followed with a solo shot to make it 5-2.
After the first two runners reached for the Broncos in the bottom of the sixth, France slugged her second homer of the game to left to make the score 7-2. Casandra Padilla followed with a single to right and Ellie Fisher walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Bernard singled them both in to end the game.
Game 2
Micaela Vierra (0-1) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 0.1 innings. Vierra allowed four runs on one hit with four walks. France was 3-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored to lead the offense. Bonilla was 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI while Ashley Haney added an RBI.
Bailey Erwin (1-0) started for Tulsa and picked up a win in 6.0 innings. Erwin allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Caitlin Sill was 1-3 with a home run and three RBI to lead the offense. Erica Sampson was 1-3 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk while Julie Kernen was 1-3 with a double, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk.
Jodi Edmiston led off the bottom of the first for Tulsa with a walk but was picked off at first. Shelby Estocado followed with a walk and Sampson smacked a homer. Catherine Horner and Kernen drew back-to-back walks and Vierra was lifted for Brianna Rios. Sill greeted Rios with a three run homer to left. Rios escaped the inning without another run coming across.
Santa Clara got a run back in the top of the second. France led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two down and runners on the corners, Haney singled to left to bring in France and make the score 5-1.
The Broncos got back another run on a lead off home run in the top of the fourth by France.
With two on and one out in the bottom of the fourth, McCall James made her collegiate debut on the mound. She got the first out on a fielder's choice but walked the next batter to load the bases. Kernen cleared the bases with a double to right center and came in to score on an error by the catcher to make it a 9-2 game.
Newell doubled to right center with one out in the top of the fifth and Bonilla came up with a two-out RBI single to right field to get Santa Clara a run closer.
In the top of the seventh Santa Clara put runners on second and third with one out. France followed with her second home run of the game, and fourth of the day, to make it a 9-6 game. The next two Broncos went down in order and Tulsa held on for the win.
