PHOENIX, Ariz. – Completing the opening weekend of the season, Santa Clara softball dropped a double header to Grand Canyon by finals of 9-3 and 6-2. The Broncos are now 1-5 on the season.
Santa Clara returns to the field Fri., Feb 13 at 3:45 at Fresno State and 8:15 vs. UC Riverside.
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (1-2) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 3.1 innings. Gonzales allowed five runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Jenna Krummen was 1-3 with a double and two RBI to lead the offense. Casandra Padilla was 2-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored while Breezy Bernard was 1-3 with a double.
Taylor Nowlin (0-0) started for Grand Canyon and picked up a no-decision in 3.2 innings. Nowlin allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Bailey Bergman (1-0) got the win in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. Kayla Henry was 3-4 with a triple and an RBI to lead the offense. Haley Walker was 1-4 with two RBI while Annie Jordan had three RBI without a hit.
Nicole Newbury led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle and Brielle Breland put two on with a fielder's choice. A groundout moved both runners up and Jordan knocked in a run with a grounder to second.
Santa Clara used a three-run top of the fourth to take the lead for the first time. Bernard led off with a double to right center but the next two batters went down in order. Padilla cashed in with an RBI double and Kimberly Goulart followed with a hit by pitch. Krummen's double to right center knocked in both runners to make it 3-1.
The Lopes answered right back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. They loaded the bases with no outs and a run came in on a fielder's choice. After a fly out to right, Walker singled to center to bring in two more runs and end the day for Gonzales. McCall James allowed a single and a sacrifice fly before the inning ended.
Grand Canyon again loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth. They would cash in three runs and add another in the sixth to take a 9-3 lead, where the game would end after the Broncos went down in order in the seventh.
Game 2
Briana Rios (0-1) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 3.0 innings. Rios allowed five runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. Gianetta France was 2-3 with a home run and two RBI to lead the offense.
Lauren Regester (1-1) started for Grand Canyon and picked up a win in 6.0-plus innings. Regester allowed two runs on five hits with a walk. Kelsey Barak was 1-4 with a home run and three RBI to lead the offense. Both Breland and Camree Warman were 2-2 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
In the top of the third Santa Clara used a single by Ashley Haney and a walk by Taylor Bojorquez to put two on with one out. The Broncos were unable to cash in a run in the inning.
Already up 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Laynee Gomez led off the frame with a walk and Walker followed with a bunt single. Rios got Henry swinging but Barak followed with a three-run shot to left. A walk and a double would add another run for Grand Canyon in the inning to make it a 5-0 game.
Micaela Vierra came in to pitch the fourth for Santa Clara and allowed a single and a walk to put the first two runners on. After two outs, Henry's infield single brought in another run for the Lopes.
Geenamarie Bonilla led off the top of the seventh with a single to right field and Amanda Delfino came in to pinch run. France followed with her fifth home run of the weekend to make the score 6-2. Jordan Newell followed with a base hit up the middle and Bergman came in to pitch for Grand Canyon. She was able to get the next three batters in order to close out the sweep for the Lopes.
