SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball (4-9) beat UConn (3-10) 3-0 and Illinois-Chicago (6-8) 4-3 in eight innings on Saturday on the second day of the Santa Clara Invitational.

"It was a great team effort today," said Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize. "We had good pitching and timely hitting, which is what we like to see. We had a talk about just that pregame and it's nice to see the team take those words to heart."

Game 1
With two out and two on in the bottom of the third, Casandra Padilla came through with a clutch RBI single through the right side to put the Broncos on top 1-0.

It was the only run Micaela Vierra (3-5) would need as she went the distance for Santa Clara and allowed just six hits with two strikeouts.

After a lead off single by Gianetta France to start the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Chiara Biagini and Kimberly Goulart and a sac fly by Amanda Delfino gave Santa Clara some breathing room with a 3-0 lead.

Casandra Padilla was 2-3 with an RBI and Biagini added a run scored and an RBI as well.

In the top of the seventh the Huskies brought the tying run to the plate with no one on. After a mound visit, Vierra bounced back to get three easy outs.

Chelsea Eckert (0-6) lasted four innings in the start. She gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Jacklyn Dubois picked up two of the Huskies six singles.

Game 2
After an error by the UIC shortstop Kaleigh Nagle in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded allowed the Broncos to tie the game at 2-all, the game went to extra innings.

Both teams scored in the eighth but the Broncos were able to break through in the bottom of the ninth.

With two down and runners on the corners, Goulart smacked a single to right for the walk off win.

Goulart was 2-4 with the game-winning RBI and Justine Garner added a double and scored two runs.

Walks came back to bite Santa Clara starter McCall James (1-4) in the fourth inning. After the first two batters walked via the free pass, a sac bunt put both runners in scoring position. Emily Wetzel came through with a single to make it 2-1 Flames.

James went all nine innings and got the win. She allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits with six walks and six strikeouts.

Alice Fitzpatrick got a no-decision in 7.0 innings. She allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Bridget Boyle (2-2) pitched 1.2 innings out of the bullpen and got the loss.

Wetzel had two RBI for UIC and L Watts added a pair of hits and an RBI.

Santa Clara returns to action tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. vs. Nevada in the finale of the Santa Clara Invitational.