Softball Falls to UC Santa Barbara, Cal Saturday

Softball Falls to UC Santa Barbara, Cal Saturday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Santa Clara softball dropped a pair of games on Saturday at the Capital City Kickoff. The Broncos lost a close 6-5 game to UC Santa Barbara to start the day and fell 6-1 to Cal in the afternoon.

Game 1
Santa Clara (0-3) fell behind UC Santa Barbara (2-1) early but made some noise in the seventh inning before having the tying run tagged out at home.

With two runs across in the top of the seventh on a two-out two-run single by Jordan Dawkins and the tying running 60 feet away, Lena Mayer's pitch went to the backstop. Kelsie Barnard took off for home but the ball bounced right back to the UCSB catcher who made the tag for the final out.

Dawkins had a big day at the plate, picking up three hits to go with her two RBIs. Barnard added a pair of hits with Taylor Burns finishing the day 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Back-to-back doubles by Taylor Burns and Samantha Johnson-Needham with two down in the top of the first put Santa Clara up 1-0 but the Gauchos answered with two in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.

UC Santa Barbara padded its lead with single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings.

The top three spots in the UC Santa Barbara order reached base seven times, with Jessica Johnston going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Maci Fines added a pair of hits and two runs scored with Alyssa Diaz hitting a double to go with two walks a run scored.

Veronika Gulvin (1-0) made the start for the Gauchos and picked up a win in 4 innings. She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts. Mayer pitched the final 3 innings to collect the save.

McCall James (0-1) lasted 2 innings in the start for the Broncos and allowed three runs on six hits with a pair of walks.

After Ellie Fisher led off the third with a single and a stolen base, the next two Broncos went down but an error on the would-be third out brought home Fisher and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Game 2
Kamalani Dung (1-0) pitched a gem for Cal (2-0), allowing just an unearned run and two Santa Clara (0-4) hits. Dung fanned eight and walked one.

The Bears scored the only run Dung would need in the first inning. After the first two were retired, an error and a walk set up an RBI single for Taurie Pogue.

Pogue added a three-run shot in the top of the third and Marcella Kay hit a two-run bomb in the sixth to pad the lead.

Micaela Vierra (0-2) picked up the loss for the Broncos in 6 innings. Vierra allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout.

A throwing error by Dung and a fielding error by the Cal left fielder with two out in the seventh plated the lone Bronco run of the game.

Hannah Russell and Morgan Modesto had the only two hits for Santa Clara with Taylor Burns earning a walk.

NEXT UP
The Broncos face Cal at noon on Sunday to conclude the Capital City Kickoff.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Live Stats Feb. 11 vs. Cal

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