SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball was swept by No. 20 BYU on Friday by scores of 5-0 and 3-1. With the win in game two, the Cougars won the outright West Coast Conference championship.
Game 1
BYU (38-10, 10-0 WCC) starter McKenna Bull (26-4) dominated in her six innings to pick up a win. She allowed just three hits and struck out six to move her scoreless streak to 49 2/3 innings.
Santa Clara (12-35, 4-9 WCC) got just one runner past first. Ellie Fisher made it third after a hit, an error, and a sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning. Kelsie Barnard and Eleni Spirakis picked up the other hits for the Broncos.
The Cougars scored single runs in the third and fourth innings before putting up a three-spot in the sixth.
Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge was 3-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored and Briielle Breland added two hits, including a triple, two runs scored, and two RBIs.
Micaela Vierra (5-13) went 6 innings in the start and allowed five runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout while getting the loss.
Game 2
In the top of the seventh, with the game tied 1-1, a bout of wildness cost Santa Clara (12-36, 4-10 WCC) starter Aubree Kim. After a hit-by-pitch and an error, Kim was able to get the second out of the inning on a foul pop but walked the next three batters to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead.
Kim (3-12) ended up taking the complete game loss. She allowed three unearned runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. She didn't allow more than one hit to any BYU (39-10, 11-0 WCC) batter in a lineup with eight of nine starters hitting over .300.
The Broncos only run came in the bottom of the first. Ellie Fisher led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop. After stealing second and moving to third on a ground out, Kimberly Goulart poked an RBI single through the right side to give Santa Clara a 1-0 lead.
Arissa Pulson (8-3) went 5 2/3 innings in the start for BYU but got a no-decision. She allowed one run on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Bull (27-4) picked up the win in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
The season concludes for Santa Clara tomorrow at noon vs. BYU with Senior Day. The ceremony will begin at 11:40 a.m.
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