March 30, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Freshman third baseman Sabrina Franks hit her first collegiate home run over left center to lift the Santa Clara University softball team to a non-conference doubleheader victory over Brown this afternoon at Marsalli Park. The Broncos won the first game 2-0 and followed with a 4-1 win in the nightcap. Santa Clara's record moves to 17-16 and the Bears are now 1-5.
Junior Liz Courter struck out seven in the circle in earning her eighth win of the season. Courter also accounted for one of the team's four hits of the afternoon. Franks' homer with one out in the bottom of the fifth placed the afternoon's first run on the board. Santa Clara scored again with two outs in the sixth, in part to back-to-back singles from outfielders Jillian Cassel and Jessica Clee. Two Bronco batters were then hit by pitches to load the bases and then walk in the two-run advantage.
Bear Uchenna Omokaro struck out four in the loss. Brown was held to three hits, led by Amy Baxter's double to right field with one out in the second. The Bears rallied with one out in the seventh, with a single from Jaimie Wirkowski, followed by a double from Courtney Jenkins, but could not overcome SCU's defense.
In the second game, the Broncos took the early lead in the second, scoring one run. Short stop Shannon Linerud notched a bunt single and reached home on first baseman Valerie Mock's double to left field.
Brown countered with three singles in the top of the third to tie the contest at 1-1. The Bears followed with three more hits in the fifth, but were unable to take the lead.
Santa Clara earned a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the frame. Franks opened with a single, and advanced to third on consecutive sacrifice bunts by Kate Goethals and Jenny Brown. Franks scored on Angela Kabanuck's single to centerfield.
Clee added her eighth home run of the season with a shot over left center to give SCU a 3-1 lead. The homer marked the team's 16th of the season, and fifth in the past four games. Linerud added an RBI single for the squad's final run of the day.
Sara Overmier pitched for the Broncos and posted her fourth win of the season. Marissa Berkes took the loss in the circle for the Bears.
Santa Clara opens the Pacific Coast Softball Conference season against Sacramento State during the weekend. There will be doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, both with noon start times. Admission is free.
