SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In the first midweek game of the year, Santa Clara softball fell to Stanford 4-1 on Wednesday night. The Cardinal scored single runs in four consecutive innings for its offense.

The Broncos drew first blood in the bottom of the first. An infield single by Anne Yates with one down set up a two-out RBI double just inside the bag at third by Justine Garner to give Santa Clara the early 1-0 lead.

Garner had the double and RBI while Yates was 2-3 with the run scored.

Stanford scored a single run in each of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. They had the bases loaded in both the fifth and sixth but Michaela Vierra was able to pitch around trouble to keep the game within reach.

Vierra (3-12) tossed a complete game for Santa Clara (5-29) but got the loss. She allowed four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Haley Snyder (6-6) went the distance for Stanford (12-14) and allowed one run on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts while picking up the win.

Kayla Bonstrom led the Cardinal offense with two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Arden Pettit had a double and scored a pair of runs.

The Broncos return to the field Saturday, April 9 at noon in the West Coast Conference opener at Pacific.