Nov. 10, 2002

PALO ALTO, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team defeated Stanford 4-0 to close out fall play today in Palo Alto. The Broncos opened the day's action with a 6-5 victory over Sacramento City but lost the opener of the doubleheader against the Cardinal 7-0.

Due to rainy weather that delayed some of the day's play, the team's agreed to play only five innings, rather than the standard seven.

In the win against Stanford, freshman Liz Courter pitched the entire game and earned the win. Senior Tracie Hall, making a move this season from short stop to first base, registered a base hit for two RBIs. Freshman Kate Goethals had a pinch hit base hit, with fellow freshman Jessica Clee bringing her home with a two-run homer.

"We came out a little tentative this morning, but it was our first time out playing as a team," head coach Marcy Crouch said. "By the end, we were playing very well together and we showed solid defense and a lot of confidence overall. Everything we had been working on in the fall, we put it together on the field. I'm also really excited that everybody was able to contribute to today's success."

Clee went 2-3 in the win against Sacramento City while sophomore Kelley Johnson earned the win from the circle. Against Stanford in the first contest, the Broncos only put up two hits, one by Clee, who went 4-8 on the day. The other hit was by senior Coresta Salas. Pitcher Jennifer Ponzo took the loss against the Cardinal.

The Broncos will return to the field in the spring, when they open their season at the UC Santa Barbara tournament. Santa Clara will open the invitational against host UC Santa Barbara on January 31, at 10:15 a.m.