April 14, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Broncos rallied back from a two run deficit to beat the Loyola Marymount Lions 3-2 in the first game of the doubleheader at Marsalli Park this afternoon. The Lions took the second game with a score of 6-3. The Broncos conclude today's play 16-27 while LMU walks away 21-28.
In the first game, the Lions took the early lead over the Broncos by scoring a run in the top of the first. Left fielder Megan Julian reached first after being walked by Santa Clara pitcher Jennifer Ponzo. She then stole second and was moved to third off a ground out by teammate Danielle Kaminaka. LMU pitcher Sami Strinz singled bringing in Julian. Then inning ended with a ground out by first baseman Emily Foltz.
LMU added another run to their lead in the second inning. Catcher Trisha Gomes was walked and then moved to second after second baseman Casie Philips reached first as a result of a Santa Clara error. Right fielder Tiffany Lawson then moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Jessica Grassi drove in Gomes with a single to right field. The Broncos were able to shut down the Lions offense for the rest of the game.
Santa Clara fired up in the bottom of the third to put a run on the board. Second baseman Lauren Fissori reached first on an error by the LMU defense. Right fielder Keri Reisinger was then able to move Fissori to second with a sacrifice bunt. Center fielder Coresta Salas singled up the middle placing runners on first and second. Bases were then loaded up as LMU pitcher Strinz walked third baseman Kristi Harrington. Fissori was driven in by first baseman Lacey Smale off a sacrifice fly to left. The inning ended with a ground out to the Lions shortstop.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Broncos scored two runs on a two out rally to beat LMU. Salas singled to right field and was moved to second when Harrington reached on an error committed by the Lions. Up next, Smale also reached on an error bringing home Salas and Harrington. The third out came from a fly out to left field.
Ponzo takes the win for the Broncos as her record moves to 3-10. Strinz takes the loss for the Lions.
In the second game, the Broncos scored two runs in the first. Salas led off the inning with a triple to left center, her fifth of the season. The next Bronco batter, Harrington struck out to record the first out. Smale then singled down the left field line to bring home Salas. Shortstop Tracie Hall then moved Smale to second with a single to left field. Rachel Sherman drove in Smale with a single to right field. Fissori moved Hall to third and Sherman to second with a sacrifice bunt. The inning ended however with a line drive by catcher Roni Rivera.
Santa Clara added another run to their lead in the bottom of the third and kept the Lions offense in check until the top of the fourth when LMU scored five runs on four hits. The Lions scored their sixth run of the game in the fifth.
Pitcher Jennifer Heliotes takes the win for LMU as Santa Clara pitcher Deanna Rodriguez takes the loss and moves to 8-10.
The Broncos take on Cal Poly next Saturday, April 20th at Marsalli Park. The first pitch is slated for noon. With a few games remaining in the season, the next Santa Clara victory will tie last years 17 win total.
