April 27, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University softball team won its 26th and 27th games of the season, setting a program best for victories. Senior Coresta Salas' home run in the ninth gave SCU a 2-1 win over Sacramento State to open the Broncos' final home doubleheader at Marsalli Park. Santa Clara overcame a three-run deficit in the second game to earn a 5-3 win.
Santa Clara's record moves to 27-22, 9-3 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action, surpassing the 1986 squad's 26 wins, the previous best mark in the program's 25-year history. The team celebrated by dousing head coach Marcy Crouch with a cooler of water. Sacramento State falls to 29-25, 8-8.
The Broncos totaled 21 hits on the afternoon, and was led by senior Tracie Hall and sophomore Vanessa Werner, who each went 4-of-7. Salas went 3-of-7 with three RBIs.
The teams went into extra innings for the second consecutive day. With the Broncos batting first -- according to PCSC rules -- right fielder Keri Reisinger led off the eighth with a single and advanced to third on consecutive sacrifices. Left fielder Jessica Clee reached base on balls and the Hornets decided to go for the force-out by intentionally walking Hall. It worked, as Sac State escaped the inning.
The Hornets couldn't respond in the bottom half of the frame, giving SCU another chance. The Broncos found the winning run in the ninth, behind Salas' lead-off home run just fair down the right line. It marked her fourth of the season. Junior Rachel Sherman followed with a stand-up double, and advanced to third on Reisinger's sacrifice. The Broncos ended the frame with a one-run lead and held on through the bottom half of the inning.
Sacramento State's Amanda Moreland started the scoring in the second inning. She led off with her second home run in as many days, sending the ball over left-center for the 1-0 lead.
The Broncos tied the game in the fourth. Werner singled to right field, and advanced to second on Clee's successful bunt. A Hornet infield error put Hall on first, and allowed Werner to round third and score.
Santa Clara caused a stir in the sixth, with Werner again singling to right. Clee advanced her one base and Hall's hit up the middle had Werner headed for home, but quick plays by Sacramento State recorded the out at home plate.
In the second contest, Sacramento State opened a 3-0 lead in the first three innings. The Hornets posted four straight singles to start the game, scoring two runs. A home run to right field by Jillian Bivert in the third extended the lead.
Santa Clara got on the board in the top of the fourth. Clee opened the frame with a single, as was brought home by Hall, who followed with her first triple of the season. She scored on short stop Shannon Linerud's single. With one out, the Broncos loaded the bases, and tied the game when pinch hitter Kelley Johnson's single brought in Linerud. The frame finished with five Bronco hits.
Santa Clara took the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Linerud and Salas hit back-to-back doubles. Salas followed with another two-out double in the seventh for the final score.
Junior Jaime Forman-Lau pitched both contests, and earned her 17th and 18th wins of the season, striking out six in each game.
After the games, the Broncos honored its four seniors -- Lauren Fissori, Hall, Roni Rivera and Salas -- who had just played the final home games of their career.
The Broncos continue PCSC play with a doubleheader against Saint Mary's on Tuesday. First pitch will take place in Moraga at 2 p.m.
