MORAGA, Calif. – Opening the first road conference weekend of the season, Santa Clara softball split with Saint Mary's by finals of 3-0 and 8-3. The Broncos are now 12-26 on the season and 2-3 in WCC play while the Gaels are now 16-26 and 1-3 in conference play.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow at 12 p.m. vs. Saint Mary's.
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (9-11) started for Santa Clara and picked up a win in the complete game shutout. Gonzales allowed one hit. Breezy Bernard was 1-3 with two RBI to lead the offense. Ellie Fisher had two walks and scored a run while Justine Garner was 1-3 with an RBI.
Katie Moss (8-5) started for Saint Mary's and picked up a loss in 4.1 innings. Moss allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Shannon Low picked up the lone hit for the Gaels.
The Broncos scored the only run they would need in support of Gonzales in the second inning. After two strikeouts to start the inning, Chiara Biagini reached on an error and moved up the second on a passed ball. An infield single by Garner brought in Biagini to give Santa Clara a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth Santa Clara added two insurance runs. Two of the first three batters walked and both moved up second on a passed ball. After another walk loaded the bases, Bernard knocked a two-RBI single up the middle to make it a 3-0 game.
After allowing a single in third with two outs, Gonzales retired the final 13 batters of the game to give the Broncos the win.
Game 2
Gonzales (9-12) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 0.1 innings. Gonzales allowed two runs on five hits. Biagini was 1-3 with an RBI to lead the offense. Geenamarie Bonilla was 1-3 with a double while Bernard added an RBI.
Katlynn Whitt (3-5) started for Saint Mary's and picked up a win in the complete game. Whitt allowed two runs on six hits with three walks. Hailey Sparacino was 2-4 with a home run and two RBI to lead the offense. Sarah Lira was 3-4 with a run and an RBI while Monika Reichhardt was 1-3 with two runs scored.
The Gaels scored two runs in the bottom of the first to get the early lead. Sparacino led off the frame with a home run to center to put Santa Clara in the hole right away. With the bases loaded and just one down, Lira singled to center to bring in the second run of the inning. Briana Rios came in to pitch and didn't allow another run to come in.
In the bottom of the third bases were loaded after hits by each of the first three batters. An RBI single made it a 3-0 game and after a fielder's choice cut the run down at home, Low cleared the bases to make the score 6-0.
In the fourth Fisher led off with a bunt single and swiped second. A ground out and sac fly brought her around to score. In the bottom of the inning Saint Mary's responded with a run of its own.
Kimberly Goulart walked with one down in the fifth and moved up on a wild pitch. Back-to-back singles brought in the second Santa Clara run. Again, in the bottom of the inning, Saint Mary's responded with a run to keep the lead at six.
Casandra Padilla led off the seventh with a single but was erased on a double play. After a walk and a wild pitch, a grounder to short ended the game.
