SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On the final day of the Gaucho Classic II, Santa Clara softball fell to Seattle 5-3 and UC Santa Barbara 9-8 in nine innings. The Broncos jumped out to leads in both games but couldn't hold either.
Game 1
Santa Clara (7-22) took a lead in the top of the third but saw Seattle (10-21) come back with five runs over the final three innings to come away with the victory.
After cutting the deficit to 3-2, Seattle was able to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Redhawks had runners on second and third with two down for Paige Bouska who tripled to left. Kaylee Ree followed with an RBI double.
Madison Cathcart and Bouska were both 2-for-4. Bouska added two RBIs and a run scored and Cathcart scored a run.
Micaela Vierra (4-6) picked up the loss in 2 innings out of the bullpen. She allowed three runs on five this with a walk.
In the top half of the seventh, Santa Clara loaded the bases with two outs and pinch hit Morgan Modesto, one of the top hitters on the team. She was unable to come through and grounded out to end the game.
Andie Larkins (5-12) picked up the win in a complete game. She allowed three runs on four hits with six walks and a strikeout.
The Broncos scored all three of their runs in the top of the third. Gianetta France led off with a double and came in to score when Jordan Dawkins followed with a triple. She would score on a groundout and Taylor Burns knocked in the third run with an RBI single through the left side.
Burns and Eleni Spirakis both collected a hit and an RBI and Dawkins was 1-for-1 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.
Game 2
After Santa Clara (7-23) got out to a 7-0 lead through four and a half innings, UC Santa Barbara (17-14) scored eight runs over the next two innings to take a lead. The Broncos regrouped and tied the game at 8-all in the top of the seventh but the Gauchos were able to score in the ninth for the victory.
With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Whitney Pemberton singled through the right side to bring home the winning run.
Aubree Kim (2-9) picked up the loss in 1-plus inning of work. She allowed four runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Extra innings were set up by Modesto who led off the seventh with a double to put the tying run in scoring position. Geenamarie Bonilla knocked a one-out double to left center to extend the game.
An error in the bottom of the sixth let two runs comes in and the tying run came across on a passed ball. Jessica Johnston's sac fly to left gave UC Santa Barbara its first lead of the day.
The Gauchos big blow in the fifth came with two down and the bases loaded. Alyssa Diaz cleared the bases with a double to left center that got the game within 7-4.
Kayla Krantz was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Jacqueline Hinojosa added two hits and two runs scored for the Gauchos. Alyssa Diaz and Kristen Clark both knocked in three runs.
Veronika Gulvan (12-6) got the win in 5 2/3 innings. She allowed four runs on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Burns blasted a three-run home run in the top of the third that put the Broncos on top 4-0. She finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
Ellie Fisher was 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored and Bonilla added a pair of hits, a run scored, and an RBI.
The Broncos return to the field Tuesday, April 4 at 5 p.m. vs. Sacramento State.
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