Feb. 1, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO - The Santa Clara University softball team split its season-opening doubleheader at San Francisco State University at SFSU's Softball Field. The Broncos posted a 3-1 victory in the nightcap after the Gators took the opening contest 2-1. It was the season opener for both teams.
Game one remained scoreless until the Gators scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. Danielle Russo reached on an error with two outs. She was brought home with Chrissy Hildebrandt's double. San Francisco State extended that lead to 2-0 after Kristen Bartholamay singled home Amanda Meyer, who was pinch running for Hildebrandt.
Santa Clara rallied in the top of the seventh with one run. Freshman catcher Maggie Godfrey doubled in her first collegiate hit and then scored on a single by designated player Kate Goethals.
SFSU All-American Sonja Garnett picked up the complete game win, striking out five and walking three, while giving up five hits and one run. Liz Courter took the loss, striking out six with zero walks in six innings.
Second baseman Jenny Brown, shortstop Shannon Linerud and Courter also posted hits for the Broncos.
Santa Clara's offense kept the momentum going in game two, scoring twice in the first. Brown was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and scored on Linerud's triple. Centerfielder Jessica Clee reached base on balls and stole second. With only one out on the board, first baseman Kelley Johnson singled home Clee. It marked Johnson's return to the field, as a knee injury kept her in the dugout in 2004.
The Broncos added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Linerud singled home Brown with one out. SF State scored its only run in the bottom half of the fourth when Russo singled to open up the inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice by Hildebrandt. Russo then scored with two outs on a Bronco error.
Freshman Jerrica Castagno picked up her first collegiate win, allowing three hits and one unearned run, while striking out five in a full seven innings. SFSU's Holly Pearce took the loss, giving up four hits in 0.1 innings. Kaitlin Klain pitched the final 6.2 frames in relief, giving up one run and four hits.
Santa Clara will open its tournament schedule this weekend in Palo Alto. The Broncos will play host Stanford on Friday at 3 p.m. at the Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium. SCU will then play Pacific on Saturday at noon and follow immediately with another contest against the host Cardinal at 2 p.m. The Broncos will close out the weekend with a contest against the Tigers on Sunday at 11 a.m. Santa Clara opens the home season on Wednesday, February 9 when it hosts Bay Area rival San Jose State at Marsalli Park. First pitch of that doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
