FRESNO, Calif. – In its first games of the Fresno State Kick-Off, Santa Clara softball fell to Fresno State and UC Riverside by finals of 2-0 and 4-3. The Broncos are now 1-7 on the season.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 14 at 11:15 a.m. vs. Sacramento State and 6 p.m. vs. Fresno State.
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (1-3) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 6.0 innings. Gonzales allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Gianetta France was 2-3 to lead the offense. Ellie Fisher, Geenamarie Bonilla and Casandra Padilla each added one hit.
Hannah Harris (1-0) started for Fresno State and picked up a win in the complete game. Harris allowed five hits with two strikeouts. Katie Castellon was 1-3 with a home run to lead the offense. Malia Rivers was 1-2 with a double while Brenna Moss was 1-3 with a run scored.
Fresno State used a lead off single in the bottom of the first to jump out to a quick 1-0 lead. Moss singled to lead off the frame and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Michelle Solomon singled in the run.
In the top of the third Fisher singled to short and Padilla followed with a single to center. Fisher tried to go to third on the play but was gunned down to end the inning.
Castellon blasted a one-out homer in the bottom of the fourth to double the Bulldog lead at 2-0. With two down Fresno State put runners on first and second but Gonzales got out of the inning.
France led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle but a pop out and double play ended the game.
Game 2
Briana Rios (0-2) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 3.0-plus innings. Rios allowed one run on three hits with three walks and a strikeout. Padilla was 3-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI to lead the offense. Fisher was 2-3 with a triple, a walk, and two runs scored as well.
Marcilena Valenzuela (1-0) started for UC Riverside and picked up a win in 3.0 innings. Valenzuela allowed no runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout. Madeline Richard was 2-3 with a home run to lead the offense.
A lead off triple in the bottom of the fourth ended the day for Rios and McCall James came in to pitch. Rebecca Faulkner followed with a sac fly to center to make it 1-0.
The Highlanders added two more in the bottom of the fifth. Kris DeAnda singled to right to start the inning and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Karina Romero came through with an RBI single up the middle. Natalie Sanchez followed with an RBI double to bring in the second run of the inning.
Santa Clara answered back with two in the top of the fifth to get it back to a one-run game. Fisher drew a walk and Padilla slammed a home run to left.
UC Riverside scored again in the top of the sixth when Richard hit an inside the park home run to lead off the frame.
In the bottom of the seventh Fisher tripled to left center with one out and Padilla followed with an RBI double. Pinch runner Amanda Delfino advanced to third on a passed ball but would be stranded there as the game ended.
