SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With the wind wreaking havoc on any ball in the air, Santa Clara softball fell to Pacifc by finals of 4-3 and 3-0. The Broncos are now 14-31 on the season and 4-7 in the WCC while the Tigers are now 16-33 and 4-7 in conference play.
Santa Clara returns to the field tomorrow, Sun., April 26 at 12 p.m. vs. Pacific
Game 1
Ciara Gonzales (11-14) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in the complete game. Gonzales allowed four runs on 12 hits. Casandra Padilla was 2-2 with two doubles and a run scored to lead the offense. Breezy Bernard was 3-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI while Jordan Newell was 1-3 with an RBI.
Dani Bonnet (7-17) started for Pacific and picked up a win in the complete game. Bonnet allowed three unearned runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Nicole Zapotoczny was 3-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI to lead the offense. Sara Anderson was 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Cassidy Gustafson was 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
The Tigers scored first with a run in the top of the third. Toni Santos laid down a perfect bunt to start the inning and Anderson tripled to right to make it 1-0. Gonzales was able to strand the runner and keep the damage to just one run.
The first pitch of the fourth was smacked to left for a single by Rachel Sellers. After a sac bunt, Alex Steinmehl's infield single put runners on the corners. Melanie Habib singled through the right side to bring in the second run of the game.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth Bernard doubled to left. A two out error by the shortstop put Broncos on the corners for Newell who popped the ball up. The wind let it fall to knock in a run but Gianetta France was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game.
Anderson started the fifth with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Zapotoczny traded places with Anderson on a double to get the Tigers the run right back. Gustafson hit one in nearly the same spot for another RBI double.
The home half of the fifth started with a double by Padilla to the right center field gap. Pinch hitter Kelli Tatum followed with a single through the left side but Padilla was unable to move up. A check swing grounder put runners on second and third with two out and an error on a grounder to third brought in a run. Bernard knocked in another run with a single to right that made the score 4-3.
The Broncos went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game.
Game 2
McCall James (2-6) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in the complete game. James allowed three runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Bernard picked up the lone hit for Santa Clara.
Marissa Young (6-4) started for Pacific and picked up a win in 5.0 innings. Young allowed one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Megan Walters picked up her first save of the season. Sellers was 2-3 with a walk, a double, and two RBI to lead the offense. Sydney Lahners was 2-4 with a double and an RBI while Zapotoczny was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
A 14 pitch at bat went the way of Sellers who worked a walk to start the second. Lahners followed with a single through the left side. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position and a two out walk to the number nine hitter loaded the bases for the top of the order. James coaxed a pop up to escape the jam.
Lahners worked a long at bat with runners on first and second with two down in the top of the third. She ended up hitting a double over the left fielder to give Pacific the 1-0 lead.
With two down in the top of the fifth Gustafson laid down a bunt single and stole second. After a foul ball wasn't caught, Sellers used her new life to drive in a run with a double to left center.
Pacific started the seventh with a single and a double to put two runners in scoring position. With one out an error on Padilla let a run come in to make it 3-0.
The Broncos went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
