SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Opening the 2015 Santa Clara Marriott Invitational, Santa Clara softball topped Howard by a final of 12-4 in six innings. The Broncos are now 4-12 on the season.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 28 at 12:15 p.m. vs. No. 17 Washington and 2:30 p.m. vs. Howard.
"It was great to come out and score a lot of runs," said Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize. "We got some practice in continuing to add on and kept the offense going. I was happy with what we did with the bats tonight."
Ciara Gonzales (4-5) started for Santa Clara and picked up a win in 5.1 innings. Gonzales allowed one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Jordan Newell was 4-4 with a double, a run scored, and three RBI to lead the offense. Breezy Bernard was 3-3 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI while Geenamarie Bonilla and Gianetta France each scored a run and knocked in two.
Alex Flynn (0-4) started for Howard and picked up a loss in 1.2 innings. Flynn allowed eight runs, four earned, on six hits with three walks. Imani Ballard was 1-3 with a double and three RBI to lead the offense.
With one out in the bottom of the first Bernard singled and Casandra Padilla singled. After a groundout put runners on the corners Bonilla swiped second. France came through with a two-run double to put the Broncos up 2-0.
The Broncos loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second for Bernard. She came through with a double to right center that knocked in two more runs. Padilla followed with a double off the third baseman's glove that brought in another run. After a comebacker to the mound, France walked to load the bases again and Chiara Biagini walked on four pitches to bring in a run. Newell singled up the middle to knock in two runs and end the day for Flynn. Tara Castellanos came in to pitch and got out of the inning with the score 8-0.
Newell added to the lead with a two out RBI double to right that brought in Biagini all the way from first.
Micaela Vierra came in to pitch the top of the fifth and hit the first batter she faced. She followed it with a walk to put two on with no one out. After a strikeout, another walk loaded the bases. Vierra's third free pass of the inning brought in the first Bison run. With a 1-2 count Ballard cleared the bases with a double to right that made the score 9-4. Another walk got Vierra out of the game and Gonzales came back in to pitch. She got out of the inning with a grounder to short.
A single and back-to-back hit batters loaded the bases for Santa Clara with one down in the bottom of the fifth. Alexa Walker entered to pitch and Bonilla greeted her with a double down the left field line that knocked in two. The inning ended with the score 11-4.
Newell started the home half of the sixth with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Kelli Tatum knocked in the winning run with a triple to right center.