SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Kicking off the first home conference series of the year, Santa Clara softball fell to San Diego 5-1 twice Saturday afternoon.

Game 1
The Toreros scored five runs in the first three innings, capped by a two run home run by Danielle Mavridis in the top of the third.

Lauren Kane would add two hits and an RBI for San Diego (20-26, 6-4 WCC) with Olivia Sandusky scoring a run and knocking one in.

Amanda Delfino led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and Chiara Biagini followed with an RBI single to right center to get the Broncos on the board.

Biagini would finish the day with both Santa Clara (7-36, 2-5 WCC) hits.

Ellie Fisher returned after missing the last 22 games but showed some rust by going 0-3.

"Having Ellie back is huge for us," Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize said. "She gives us a spark at the top of the lineup and adds a lot defensively. Her presence will really help us the rest of the season.

Micaela Vierra (4-17) picked up the loss in 2-plus innings. She allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Megan Sabbatini (13-15) went 5 innings to get the win for San Diego. She allowed one run on two hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Game 2
A three-run blast by Kane in the top of the third gave San Diego (21-26, 7-4 WCC) the only runs it would need.

Santa Clara (7-37, 2-6 WCC) came back and loaded the bases without a hit in the bottom of the inning with two outs but couldn't get the big hit.

"We set the table today a few times but couldn't come through with the big hit," Mize said. "We've been a clutch hit away in a lot of games this year and today was no different.

The Broncos were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth off an RBI double from Jordan Dawkins. Anne Yates scored from first but Dawkins was thrown out at third trying to stretch her hit to a triple.

Gianetta France had a pair of hits for Santa Clara and three other Broncos picked up a hit.

Vierra (4-18) went the distance but picked up the loss. She allowed five runs on 11 hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

"Walks have hurt us this year," Mize said. "We've just walked too many batters to set up innings for the opponent. Today a lead off walks really got us."

Eight of the nine San Diego starters had at least one hit and three had two hits each.

Sabbatini (14-15) got her second win of the day in 4 innings. She allowed one run on two hits with four walks and a strikeout.

Grace Hernandez tossed 3 innings to pick up her third save of the year.

Santa Clara returns to action tomorrow at noon in the finale of the three game set with San Diego.

Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram