April 25, 2010
LOS ANGELES - The Santa Clara softball team dropped its final two games against Loyola Marymount today, falling 12-3 and 5-0 to the Lions. The Broncos fell to 9-25 overall and 1-10 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference with today's two losses.
After a scoreless first inning for both sides in the first contest, Loyola Marymount took control of the game in the second inning.
The Lions used two home runs, one a grand slam, a double, and three singles to bring in seven runs on six hits and no errors. Freshman pitcher Ali Nash was brought in to replace senior Kaitlyn Rauschnot to get the final out of the inning.
LMU hit their third home run of the game in the third inning to take an 8-0 lead.
Santa Clara finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when junior Jackie Nicora singled to bring in freshman Jamie Wallis and sophomore Briana Knight doubled to score senior Emily Batt, bringing the deficit to six runs.
In the fifth inning, the Lions sealed the Broncos' fate with a two-run double and a two-run homer, pushing it to a 10-run lead. Santa Clara countered when Knight got her second RBI of the game, driving in sophomore Christine Prochnow, but the rally fell short on the next play as a foul fly ended the game in the fifth inning.
The second game was much tighter, as freshman pitcher Riley McKay held LMU to just two runs over three innings, but the Broncos were blanked by pitcher Molly Medeiros all seven innings.
The Lions scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to stretch the game to its final score of 5-0.
Santa Clara finished the second game with five hits.
The Broncos return to the field on Wednesday, taking on No. 13 California in Berkeley at 3 p.m. Santa Clara will make up their final PCSC game against Sacramento State on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the state's capitol before returning to West Valley College for senior weekend against Saint Mary's.
