March 10, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After playing their first 16 games on the road, the Santa Clara softball team will open the home half of the 2009 campaign at their new home field: the West Valley Softball Complex. The Broncos, 2-14 overall, look to use the home field advantage in their first home game. SCU will square off with Northern Illinois in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 11. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Three days later the Broncos will travel to Reno, Nev. to take on University of Nevada in three game series. On Saturday, March 14, Santa Clara will play the Wolf Pack at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in a doubleheader. The next day, SCU will close out the weekend series at noon.
Last Time Out
The Broncos posted their second victory of the season versus Mount Saint Mary's on March 6, at the Pepsi Malihini Aloha Tournament. Santa Clara decidedly defeated the Mountaineers 5-1, and sophomore pitcher Jenna Fong earned her first career win. The Sacramento, Calif. native posted a solid complete game performance on the mound with four strikeouts, and only two hits and one unearned run allowed in 27 batters faced.
Freshman slugger Briana Knight earned all-tournament honors for her performance over the seven-game tournament. Knight, the lone at-large bid, posted seven hits, two RBIs and two runs.
The Broncos went 1-6 at the tournament, falling to No. 25 Mississippi State, Hawai'i, Radford, Oregon State and Florida Gulf Coast.
Finally! Broncos to Host Home Opener
With 16 road games under their belt, the Santa Clara softball team will host their season home opener versus Northern Illinois on Wednesday, March 11. The Broncos will play the 2009 season at West Valley Softball Complex in Saratoga, Calif. Santa Clara's new home field is located at 14000 Fruitdale Avenue, Saratoga, Calif. 95070.
Knight Earns First Career All-Tournament Team Accolade
Outfielder Briana Knight has made a significant impact on the Bronco lineup in her freshman debut. The Bay Area product leads SCU with a .319 batting average, 15 hits, 10 RBIs, eight doubles, six runs, five walks and two home runs. Knight, a PCSC Top Performer for her performance at the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament, tallied seven hits, two RBIs and two runs from March 5-8. She was selected as an at-large bid to the all-tournament team. It was her first career tournament team selection.
Fong Posts First Career Win on the Mound
Leading the Bronco pitching staff this season is sophomore Jenna Fong. In her first career win on the mound, the Sacramento, Calif. native threw four strikeouts, and allowed only two hits and one unearned run in 27 batters faced in her second complete game. The win broke the Broncos' seven-game losing streak. This season she posts 20 strikeouts and two complete games in 51.2 innings pitched. She has started six contests and appeared in 13 of the 16 games played this season.
Fong has also been a strong force in the SCU offensive lineup, as she is second on the team with a .273 batting average. She posts nine hits, seven walks, three runs and two doubles.
Shining at Batt
Catcher Emily Batt had a breakthrough game for the Broncos versus Mount Saint Mary's on March 6. The Poway, Calif. led the SCU offense in the 5-1 win over the Mountaineers. Batt had three hits, a RBI and a run in the game. After four scoreless innings, she led of the Santa Clara scoring in the top of the fifth with a home run and a RBI to get the Broncos on the board. It was her first homer of the season. Batt posts a .259 batting average, for third best on the team, seven hits, four runs, three RBIs and a home run on the season.
Scouting Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois University, 3-11 overall, travels to Santa Clara after falling in their last two games to University of Pacific. The Huskies are led by Andrea Colosimo, who's hitting .258 in 12 starts. The sophomore has tallied eight hits, seven RBIs, six runs and two home runs. On the defensive end, pitcher Morgan Bittner leads on the mound. She posts two wins and six losses. In eight appearances, she has 33 strikeouts and five complete games.
Scouting University of Nevada
The Wolf Pack of University of Nevada enter this weekend with a 16-9 overall record. Nevada, who posts a perfect 5-0 record at home this season in Reno, and is led by Britton Murdock. The sophomore outfielder is 30-for-73 at the plate with a .411 average. She's tallied 23 RBIs, 18 runs, five home runs, two doubles and a triple. On the mound Katie Holverson is 9-6 this season with a 2.43 ERA. She's appeared in 18 games and 83.2 innings. She has 95 strikeouts 10 complete games and a save under her belt this season.
