SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball continued its rise in 2015 by winning the most games under head coach Lisa Mize and the most since 2006 when the Broncos won 24 contests. The freshman class produced big results for Santa Clara, giving hope to the continued growth of the program. The veterans etched their names in the Santa Clara record books as well while several key pieces will be returning to the Mission campus in 2016.
"Overall I am pleased with the season," said Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize. "We had some games that we could have or should have won along the way but as a team we improved and had great chemistry."
As a team Santa Clara hit .255 with 55 doubles, four triples, and 19 home runs. They posted a 4.35 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 328.0 innings. The Broncos were outscored on the season 257-160.
Ellie Fisher, a Second Team All-WCC selection, was one of two Broncos to start all 50 games on the season and led the team in batting average with a .342 mark and on-base percentage at .462. She also led the team with 31 walks, 27 runs scored, and 22 steals, good for second in the WCC, in 27 tries. She added a double, a triple, and nine RBI as well. Fisher's season peppered the Bronco single-season record book. She finished No. 1 in walks, No. 2 in stolen bases, No. 3 in OBP, and No. 10 in batting average.
"Ellie was a big time recruit and had the opportunity to go to a lot of great programs so we are really fortunate that she chose Santa Clara," said Mize. "Ellie is a tone setter - she competes hard, gives 100% effort at practice and in games, and has that never give up attitude. She has become a leader by example for this team."
Casandra Padilla hit .303 and posted a .415 OBP thanks to 12 walks and 12 HBP, the third most in a single season in Bronco history. Her efforts landed her First Team All-WCC honors. Padilla is already No. 10 in Santa Clara history with 15 HBP. She hit 11 doubles and three home runs to go with 20 runs scored and 12 RBI. Breezy Bernard batted .296 with a team-high 13 doubles, which placed her tied for fourth on the Santa Clara single-season list. Bernard led the Broncos with 24 RBI while adding a home run and seven runs scored. She finished tied for No. 9 on the all-time list with a .970 fielding percentage. Jordan Newell was the other Bronco to start all 50 games and she hit five home runs and seven doubles. Newell finished tied for sixth all-time at Santa Clara with 11 career home runs. She added 16 runs scored and 21 RBI while posting a program-best .995 fielding percentage at first base. Geenamarie Bonilla played in all 50 games and made 49 starts. Bonilla batted .282 with two home runs and seven doubles. She added 22 RBI and 13 runs scored. Gianetta France led the team with six home runs and added four doubles. She knocked in 18 runs while scoring 12. Chiara Biagini tied for No. 6 in single-season history with nine HBP. Bernard, Newell, and Bonilla were all All-WCC Honorable Mention.
Ciara Gonzales, All-WCC Honorable Mention, led Santa Clara in ERA (3.32), wins (12), appearances (37), starts (26), complete games (12), shutouts (2), innings pitched (158.0), and strikeouts (48). With just 19 walks allowed, Gonzales finished No. 6 in the country in BB/7. Her 12 wins was the most since 2005. McCall James threw 74.2 innings as a freshman with a 4.31 ERA. James appeared in 25 games and started 10 with three complete games and one shutout. James also picked up a save to go with two wins and 32 punch-outs. Briana Rios appeared in 22 games and started 10 contests with two complete games and one shutout. She fanned 14 over 65.2 innings. Micaela Vierra pitched in 15 games and made four starts while also picking up a save. In 29.2 innings Vierra struck out 17 batters.
The season started with a bang as France clubbed two home runs in the season-opening win vs. Northern Colorado. In the second game of the day vs. Tulsa, France smacked two more bombs. In the third game of the season she hit her fifth homer of the short season. Her performance nabbed her WCC Player of the Week on Feb. 9 and also took home the College Sports Madness WCC Player of the Week honor. All told, France hit .421 (8-19) with a .450 OBP and a 1.263 slugging percentage over the weekend. She had 11 RBI and added a double and scored six runs for the Broncos.
Santa Clara's first home game came on Feb. 20 during the Bronco Classic where they topped Seattle 5-4 on a walk-off single by Bonilla. Trailing 4-0 after the top of the first and 4-1 heading to the fourth the Broncos used two runs in the ninth for the thrilling home-opening win.
The Broncos had one more walk-off, coming on April 3 vs. LMU. The Lions were up 2-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth when Santa Clara scored three to take a lead. LMU responded by tying the game in the top of the seventh but the Broncos wouldn't be denied. With runners on second and third and just one down, Padilla knocked a single to start the celebration.
Against the 11th best hitting team in the country, San Jose State, Santa Clara went on the road and stole a game from the Spartans in the final non-conference game of the year April 28. Santa Clara exploded for five runs in the first two innings and would build a 7-0 lead before San Jose State scored once in the bottom of the fourth. The Spartans got back in the game with three in the fifth and two in the sixth but the Broncos were able to hold on for the victory.
In all, Santa Clara played eight teams in the RPI top-75 faced six teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Playing this kind of top competition is what will help the team grow and ultimately compete for a WCC title.
"Playing top competition makes us compete harder," said Mize. "I am a believer that you get better by playing against the best. Those games are great learning opportunities for us and help show our team what were made of."
With a freshman being arguably the team's best player, the future looks bright for Santa Clara softball.
"The team looks encouraging for next year and I am excited to get started with the 2016 team," said Mize. "Our young pitchers (McCall & Micaela) have improved tremendously and both of them have set goals to do big things for us next year in the circle. We have incoming freshman Morgan Modesto, Jordan Dawkins, and Kelsie Barnard that I expect to make a immediate impact on the field and with their bats. Our three seniors Cassie, Ciara, and Chiara will be the backbone of this team and are on a mission."
