BERKELEY, Calif. – In a midweek game, Santa Clara softball lost to No. 15 Cal by a final of 8-0 in five innings. The Broncos are now 13-27 on the season.
Santa Clara returns to the field Sat., April 18 at 12 and 2 p.m. at San Diego.
Briana Rios (1-9) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 4.0 innings. Rios allowed eight runs, seven earned, on six hits with four walks and one strikeout. Ellie Fisher had a walk and two stolen bases for the Bronco offense.
Katie Sutherland-Finch (14-5) started for Cal and picked up a win in 5.0 innings. Sutherland-Finch threw a no-hitter with three walks and nine strikeouts. Cheyenne Cordes was 2-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored to lead the offense. Danielle Henderson was 1-1 with a three-run home run and two walks while Britt Vonk was 1-1 with two walks and two runs scored.
Fisher led off the game with a walk and stole second and third to put herself just 60 feet away. Sutherland-Finch got two strikeouts and a popup in the innings to keep it scoreless.
After a single and a fielder's choice put two runners on with no one out in the bottom of the second, a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. A ground out brought in the first run of the inning and a throwing error on the same play made it 2-0 Cal.
The Bears scored two more runs in the bottom of the third. A lead off walk came in to score after a wild pitch and a double by Cordes. Another walk put two on and a ground out made it runners on the corners. Taurie Pogue swiped second and Cordes came in to score on the play to give Cal a four run lead.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, Cal put together a two-out rally to take an 8-0 lead. With two on Cordes doubled to left to knock in the first run of the inning. Henderson followed with a three-run home run.
The Broncos went down in order in the top of the fifth to finish off the no hitter.