RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Kicking off a 10-game road trip, Santa Clara softball (4-11) topped Utah State (4-12) and fell to UC Riverside (14-6) 7-6 Saturday afternoon at the Highlander Classic.

Game 1
A walk and an error in the bottom of the seventh proved to be fatal for Santa Clara. After a sacrifice bunt put the winning run on third with just one out, pinch hitter Erika Campbell singled to let to give Riverside the win,

Micaela Vierra started for Santa Clara and went 4.0 innings. She allowed six runs on 10 hits with a walk.

McCall James (1-5) got the loss in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Casandra Padilla and Kelsie Barnard both had two RBI to lead the Bronco offense. Geenamarie Bonilla added a pair of hits and scored a run.

Tayler Misfeldt allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings as the start for Riverside.

Kaylynn Pierce (5-2) got the win in 2.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen.

Madeline Richard was 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Hannah Rodriguez was 3-3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI.

Things didn't start well for the Broncos with UC Riverside taking a 3-0 lead after just two innings and they would trail 6-0 after four innings.

Santa Clara responded with a big fifth to make it a game. The Broncos loaded the bases with no one out but a strikeout and fielder's choice kept them off the board. Padilla and Barnard both followed with two-run singles to get Santa Clara within 6-4.

In the top of the sixth, Morgan Modesto led off the frame with a single and a stolen base. Bonilla followed with an RBI single before Kimberly Goulart tied the game at 6-all two batters later.

Game 2
With the game knotted at 2-all, back-to-back hits with one on and two down by Justine Garner and Bonilla in the top of the fifth gave Santa Clara a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Just for good measure, Padilla blasted a three-run bomb to center in the top of the sixth for some insurance runs.

James (2-5) went the distance for Santa Clara. She allowed two runs on five hits with a walk.

Padilla led the offense with three RBI and Ellie Fisher was 3-4 with three runs scored. Garner also added a pair of hits and two RBI.

Noelle Johnson (1-5) allowed seven runs on nine hits with a walk and five strikeouts while taking the loss.

Brina Buttacavoli and Libby Pederson had the two RBI for Utah State while SarinaJaramillo had two hits and scored a run.

Santa Clara scored a run in the top of the first to take a brief 1-0 before two RBI outs in the bottom of the second gave Utah State the 2-1 advantage.

Morgan Modest tied things up with her first collegiate home run to lead off the fourth.

Santa Clara returns to action tomorrow at 9 a.m. vs. Utah State and at 2 p.m. vs. UC Riverside.