NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Wrapping up tournament play for the year, Santa Clara softball split Sunday at the Matador Classic. The Broncos topped Georgia Tech 7-6 in 6 innings before falling to Cal Poly 4-1.
Game 1
Eleni Spirakis had a career-high four RBIs to lead Santa Clara to an exciting 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Georgia Tech Sunday morning. Due to Georgia Tech's travel, the game ended after 6 innings.
The Yellow Jackets (19-11) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two and a half innings, but the Broncos (5-22) roared back to tie the game after four and used two in the bottom of the sixth to close out the win.
With Santa Clara down 6-5 and two out with one on, Spirakis doubled to center to bring in Ellie Fisher and tie the score at 6-all. Hannah Russell followed with a single up the middle to score what would be the winning run.
Spirakis finished the day 3-for-4 with two doubles and scored two runs. Russell was a perfect 4-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Micaela Vierra (3-9) picked up the win by tossing a complete game. She allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with six walks and a strikeout.
Down 5-0, Santa Clara scored four in the bottom of the third to get back in the game. Spirakis hit her first double of the day, this one knocking in two, and came around to score on a single by Russell. Russell scored the fourth run of the inning on an error.
In the fourth, Spirakis came through again with a single through the right side to tie the game at 5-all.
The Yellow Jackets briefly retook the lead in the lead in the top of the fifth after an error and a two-out single.
Crosby Huckabay was the only Georgia Tech player with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Breanna Roper also added a pair of RBIs.
Naomi Dickerson (5-4) got the loss in 3 innings out of the bullpen by allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits with a strikeout.
Game 2
The Broncos (5-23) looked like their bats were going to stay hot after game one when they scored a run in the bottom of the first, but Cal Poly (16-13) responded in the top of the second and kept Santa Clara scoreless the remainder of the way.
Lindsey Chalmers (11-4) bounced back after the first and went the distance to collect the win. She allowed just the one run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Cal Poly's two-run second was aided by a one-out error that preceded two hits and a sacrifice fly.
Chelsea Convissar led the Mustang offense with a home run out of the leadoff spot with three players each chipping in an RBI.
Fisher singled with one out in the first and moved to second on a wild pitch, before coming around to score on a double by Spirakis.
Six different Broncos collected one hit each in the game.
McCall James (0-5) started for the Broncos and got the loss in 6 innings while allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits with a walk.
UP NEXT
Santa Clara hosts Fresno State Wednesday at 5 p.m.
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