EL PASO, Texas – Santa Clara softball erased a six-run deficit and battled all game long but could not overcome a powerful Texas Tech lineup that slugged six home runs and lost 16-14 on the final day at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament.
The Broncos (3-6) had the go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the seventh as Leiora Davidson came in to pinch hit with two runners on and two outs but Kendall Fritz struck out the freshman to close out the game.
Texas Tech (9-2) scored in every inning, banging out 17 hits with eight of those going for extra bases. Kailey Wyckoff went 3-for-4 while Carson Armijo and Maddie Saven combined for 10 RBIs.
Sammy Needham, Morgan Salmon and Bailey McLaughlin led the offensive charge for the Broncos (3-6) combining for eight hits and eight RBIs. Four different Broncos scored multiple runs.
Saven's three-run home run off Santa Clara reliever Hazyl Gray in the bottom of the fourth put the Red Raiders ahead for good at 10-9 but the Broncos fought throughout the game.
Texas Tech (8-2) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on a pair of solo home runs by Makinzy Herzog and a grand slam by Armijo in the first two frames.
In the third, the Broncos (3-5) stormed back sending 12 batters to the plate to score seven runs to take a 7-6 lead. The first nine batters safely reached base including four with RBI singles.
After a solo home run by Wyckoff tied the game up in the bottom of the third, SCU took the lead at 9-7 on Bailey McLaughlin's 2-RBI double in the top of the fourth. It would be the last time they would see the lead as Saven hit her three-run home run in the home half of the inning.
Trailing by four runs in the fifth, Santa Clara got to within one at 13-12 on an RBI single by McLaughlin but the Red Raider pushed the lead back out to 16-12 on the sixth home of the game, this time by Abbie Orrick.
Sage Hoover picked up her fifth win of the season in relief while Gray fell to 2-2 on the year.
All-Tournament Team
Peyton Angulo (UTEP)
Caitlyn Brockway (UTEP)
Keyannah Chavez (New Mexico)
Kendall Fritz (Texas Tech)
Hazyl Gray (Santa Clara)
Makinzy Herzog (Texas Tech)
Alexis Lucyshyn (Buffalo)
Peyton Robinson (New Mexico)
Morgan Salmon (Santa Clara)
Ashley Trierweiler (Santa Clara)
Arianna Villa (Texas Tech)
Kailey Wyckoff (Texas Tech)
MVP: Kailey Wyckoff (Texas Tech)
NEXT UP
The 2023 home opener at Santa Clara Softball Stadium awaits the Broncos on Wednesday against Stanford at 5 p.m.
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