April 26, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University softball team is just one win shy of tying for the most victories by a Bronco squad in a single season after a 1-0, 10-inning win over Sacramento State in the first game of a doubleheader, held this afternoon at Marsalli Park. The Hornets took the second game by an 8-0 score.
Santa Clara's record moves to 25-22, 7-3 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action, while Sacramento State moves to 29-23, 8-6.
With their next victory, the Broncos will tie the 1986 squad's 26 wins, the best mark in the program's 25-year history.
In the opener, both teams remained hitless until the bottom of the fourth, when Bronco outfielder Jessica Clee singled to right center. Santa Clara grounded into a double play to end the effort.
Jaime Forman-Lau's attempt at a perfect game was broken in the sixth, when Hornet Amy Hillel singled down the left field line. She advanced to second on a Bronco throwing error. Second baseman Jenni Friedrichs sacrificed Hillel to third, but Forman-Lau struck out the remaining two batters to end the threat.
Clee added the Broncos' second hit with one out in the bottom of the seventh, while catcher Roni Rivera added a two-out base hit in the eighth.
The game moved to international tiebreaker rules in the 10th, starting a runner on second. The Broncos survived the top half of the frame, and with Clee on base in the bottom half of the inning, key plays by infielders Tracie Hall and Shannon Linerud secured the team's 25th victory of the season.
Hall registered her seventh sacrifice of the year, a bunt that moved Clee to third. Linerud's single to right field tipped off the outfielder's glove, allowing the game-winning run to score.
Forman-Lau allowed two hits and struck out 10 to lead SCU, while Sacramento State's Nicole Deatherage posted 11 Ks and allowed four hits.
Sacramento State took the early lead in the second game, when Erin Coyne recorded her third home run of the season, leading off the second inning with a solo shot over the left field fence. The Hornets added two runs in the third in part to two Bronco errors. Amanda Moreland put the game out of reach with a three-run blast in the fifth. Sacramento State finished the contest with eight hits.
Santa Clara loaded the bases in the bottom half of the third, behind singles from catcher Rachel Sherman and third baseman Vanessa Werner.
Liz Courter took the loss in the circle, lasting 2.1 innings. Brianne Ferguson earned the win for the Hornets, holding the Broncos to three hits.
Santa Clara will play another doubleheader against the Hornets tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch slated for noon. After the games, the Broncos will honor its four seniors-Lauren Fissori, Hall, Rivera and Coresta Salas-who will have just played the final home games of their career.
