SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Finishing a stretch of six games in five days, Santa Clara softball fell to UMKC by finals of 7-2 and 2-1. The Broncos are now 10-23 on the season.
Santa Clara returns to the field Thurs., April 2 at 4 p.m. vs. LMU in the conference opener.
Game 1
Micaela Vierra (0-2) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 3.0 innings. Vierra allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with three walks. Breezy Bernard was 1-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored to lead the offense. Geenamarie Bonilla was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI while Jordan Newell was 1-3 with an RBI.
Katie Kelley (6-7) started for UMKC and picked up a win in the complete game. Kelley allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and nine strikeouts. Cinda Ramos was 3-4 with two doubles, three RBI, and a run scored to lead the offense. Bri Wyatt was 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Marlee Maples was 2-4 with two runs scored.
Ramos hit the first pitch of the game down the left field line for a double. After moving to third on a groundout, Kelley hit a fly ball to left that was dropped to let the run come in. Caitlin Christopher singled to put runners on the corners but Bernard gunned her down trying to steal.
With one out in the bottom of the first Taylor Bojorquez singled up the middle and Bernard doubled over the head of the left fielder. Bonilla hit a sharp single off the third baseman to tie the score and put runners on first and third. Newell kept the inning going with an RBI single to left that gave the Broncos their first lead at 2-1.
A lead off walk came back to hurt Vierra in the second. A sac bunt moved the runner up and with two down another walk put runners on the corners. Ramos doubled over the head of the left fielder to bring both runs home and give the Kangaroos the lead back. A single through the left side put runners on the corners and a walk loaded the bases. Bernard picked the runner off at second to end the inning.
After scoring single runs in the third and fourth, the Kangaroos loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth. After an out was recorded, Ramos hit an infield single and Wyatt followed with another RBI single to make the score 7-2.
Ellie Fisher singled through the left side in the bottom of the seventh and stole second. Bernard walked with two down
Game 2
Ciara Gonzales (8-10) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in the complete game. Gonzales allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with a strikeout. Fisher was 2-2 with two walks and a run scored to lead the offense. Bernard was 1-4 with a double as well.
Amber Grove (5-4) started for UMKC and picked up a win in the complete game. Grove allowed one unearned run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Ramos was 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI to lead the offense. Christopher added an RBI and Kelsey Leach scored a run.
The Kangaroos jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sac fly by Christopher.
Newell was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the second and Gianetta France followed with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Chiara Biagini moved both runners up but Santa Clara was unable to push a run across.
Fisher laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line to start the home half of the third. After she was caught stealing, a single and two errors loaded the bases with one out for Santa Clara. Grove was able to escape the jam and keep the Broncos down one.
A three-base error started the fifth and Ramos made it hurt with a single to right.
Fisher walked to start the bottom of the fifth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Bernard flied out to left and Fisher moved up to third. On the throw to try and catch Fisher at third, the ball got away allowing the run to score.
France reached on a dropped pop up to lead off the home half of the sixth. After an out Jenna Krummen was hit by a pitch to put the go ahead run on base. An infield single by Fisher led to Biagini trying to score from second and being caught in a run down for the final out with Santa Clara still down 2-1.
Bernard doubled to right center with one down in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying run in scoring position. A strikeout and diving catch by the second baseman ended the game.
