April 14, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - On a blustery Tuesday evening at Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, Calif., the Santa Clara softball team dropped a 7-0 decision to No. 2 Stanford. The Broncos (5-36, 0-8 PCSC) could not match the powerful second-ranked Cardinal team, as they fell to 0-2 on the season versus the local rival.
SCU could only manage two hits in the contest, including a single in the third from second baseman Megan Smith. M. Smith's hit up the middle was the first of the game for Santa Clara. The Broncos could not produce anything after the junior got on base, as the following batter popped out to second and the Stanford infielder threw M. Smith out. Sophomore Amanda Edmonson tallied Santa Clara's final and second hit of the game. The SCU infielder, who played at first base against Stanford, singled to left field in the fifth inning.
The Bronco offense was stammered from an outstanding outing from Stanford's pitcher Ashley Chinn. On the mound, she threw 22 strikeouts, including striking out SCU's first four batters. The Cardinal defense supported Chinn in the circle, as they did not surrender a run in Santa Clara's second straight shutout.
Stanford's offense capitalized on the Broncos' inability to get a runner past first base. Starting pitcher Jenna Fong allowed four runs to score in the first and junior Kaitlyn Rauschnot concluded the half inning and the game on the mound for SCU. The Santa Clara reliever threw three strikeouts and allowed three Cardinal runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
After a lone midweek non-conference contest, the Broncos jump back into PCSC action this weekend. Santa Clara will take on Saint Mary's in a four-game series from April 18-19, in Moraga, Calif.
