Feb. 22, 2002
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The No. 5 Golden Bears defeated Santa Clara 7-2, in the early morning game Friday in the UC Santa Barbara "Softball by the Beach" Invitational at Elings Park. The Broncos fell later in the day to Iowa State by a score of 5-1 to fall to 7-8 on the season.
Bear All-American Veronica Nelson smashed her second homer of the year to give Cal an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. In the bottom half of the inning, Santa Clara manufactured a run as a leadoff double by junior Tracie Hall started off the Broncos' second set. Freshman Kelley Johnson then singled her home to even up the score.
In the third inning, on the strength of five base hits and a walk, the Bears brought in four runs as Courtney Scott and Mikella Pedretti both singled in bases loaded situations, bringing in two runs a piece.
In the fourth inning, Cal scored another run as freshman Kaleo Eldredge advanced to third and scored on Santa Clara freshman pitcher Jennifer Ponzo's two wild pitches.
Pedretti tallied her third RBI of the game when she doubled to the gap in left center. Chelsea Spencer scored from first.
Cal pitcher Jen Deering threw five innings, striking out five and walking just one. Cassie Bobrow came in to spell Deering and finished off the last two innings, giving up two hits while striking out a batter. Deering improves to 5-1 on the year. Ponzo fell to 2-4.
In the second game, senior Kristi Harrington scored the Broncos' only run off an RBI base hit by sophomore transfer Rachel Sherman. Senior pitcher Deanna Rodriguez took the loss for SCU.
