March 28, 2010
STANFORD, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team won its final two games of the Stanford Invitational today, defeating Cal State Bakersfield, 11-3, and Pacific, 1-0, to finish 3-1 overall at the tournament. With the wins, the Broncos improved to 9-14 on the season.
Against the Roadrunners in the first game, Santa Clara relied on two big innings to fuel the victory.
CSUB took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Broncos scored five in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Kristin Welsh and junior Jackie Nicora singled to get on base and junior Stephanie Smith advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Megan Smith then hit a huge double to score the first two runs. Senior Briana Knight singled up the middle to score Smith with two outs and Jamie Wallis was walked, putting two runners on again. Then it was senior Emily Batt's turn, as she doubled to score Wallis and Knight. The Roadrunners finally ended the inning as junior Amanda Edmonson was put out.
CSUB got two more runs in the game, one in the third and one in the sixth to pull within two, but Santa Clara's bats took control in the bottom of the sixth.
With two outs on the board again the Broncos went on a tear. Batt got another RBI with a single, driving in Knight. Edmonson doubled to drive in Batt and freshman Jamie Wallis, and Welsh singled to score Edmonson. Sophomore Catherine Surane singled to left field, scoring Welsh, and Nicora scored the final run on a throwing error by the left field on the same play. Freshman Riley McKay pitched the whole game, struck out two and allowing eight hits on her way to the win.
In the second game against Pacific, the Broncos avenged two losses suffered to Pacific earlier in the season. With two outs on the board in the top of the seventh, Surane reached on an error by the second baseman and Nicora, who reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second. Then Mean Smith was walked to load the bases. Fong came in to pinch-hit for Picard, and was also walked to send in the run. Knight fouled out in the next at-bat to send the game into the last half inning.
Santa Clara's defense came up huge in the bottom of the seventh, getting two straight outs; a fly out and a ground out. Pierce singled to right center in the third at-bat, but Horn grounded out to senior pitcher Kaitlyn Rauschnot to give the Broncos the win. Rauschnot went the complete game, striking out three and only allowing five hits for her third win of the season.
Santa Clara next plays on April 6 at San Jose State at 3 p.m. The Pacific Coast Softball Conference schedule begins for the Broncos on April 10 at Sacramento State.
