Reno, Nev. – The Santa Clara softball team traveled to Reno to participate in the Wolfpack Classic, hosted by University of Nevada-Reno March 23-24. Santa Clara tangled with Idaho State and Nevada on both days and while the Broncos put up a fight they were unable to come away with victories.orious.
Santa Clara moves to 3-24 on the season. The Broncos open Pacific Coast Softball Conference play this week when they host LMU on March 29 and 30. Both days feature double-headers that start at 12 p.m.
Below are game summaries from the Wolfpack Classic.
Game 1: Santa Clara Falls to Idaho State 4-6
Santa Clara got off to a strong start in the top half of the first inning. Stephanie Fisher led off with a walk, and Rochelle Rivera followed with a single to left. Chiara Biagini grounded out, advancing the runners. Jordan Newell singled through the right side, scoring Fisher.
Up 1-0, Santa Clara was able to hold on to the lead until the bottom of the second. Idaho State's rally was enough to tie the game, with a sacrifice RBI, scoring Vicky Galasso. SCU was able to stop the rally, leaving the game tied at 1-1.
Idaho State struck again in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs off two hits. Galasso doubled to left field with a runner on, notching an RBI. With Galasso on third, Katee Wiley flied out to right field, plating Galasso, and giving the Bengals the 5-1 lead.
The Broncos did not go down quietly. In the top of the sixth, Newell and Kelly Scribner notched back-to-back singles. With two on and one out, catcher Breezy Brenard singled up the middle, scoring Newell and moving Scribner to second. Krista Jensen doubled with two out, scoring Brenard and Scribner.
Santa Clara was still down 5-4 after six innings, and Idaho State scored one last run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the final to 6-4 in favor of the Bengals.
Carissa Theis worked through all six innings for the Broncos, allowing 11 hits and six runs while striking out five.
Game 2: Nevada Topples Santa Clara, 10-0
In the second game of the Wolfpack Classic, Santa Clara was unable to drive in any runs against host school Nevada.
Nevada broke open the deadlock in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits.
Santa Clara only saw two hits in the game, coming in the first from Newell and in the third from Fisher, but the Broncos were unable to string together any other rally.
Nevada poured on seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, batting around the order and notching six hits.
Jessica Turner, the Broncos starter, worked through three plus innings, allowing 11 hits and 10 runs while striking out three. Ciara Gonzales came on in relief in the bottom of the fourth and allowed one hit.
Game 3: SCU Falls 12-1 to Idaho State
In the second day of the Wolfpack Classic, Santa Clara fell to Idaho State 12-1. The Bengals scored one run in the second, three runs in the third and four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 8-0 lead.
Santa Clara was able to avoid the shutout, plating one in the bottom of the fourth. With two runners on first and second, the Broncos took advantage of a wild throw, scoring Newell and advancing Ashley Haney to second.
The Bengals added four more runs in the top of the fifth, taking a 12-1 advantage and ending the game after five innings.
Gonzales took the loss for Santa Clara, pitching three plus innings. She allowed eight hits and six runs. Jaymi Bautista-Gieger came on in relief, and lasted just two outs, allowing one hit and three runs. Theis closed out the game for the Broncos, pitching one inning and allowing three runs on four hits.
Game 4: Nevada Wins 10-2
Nevada wasted no time jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on three hits against the Broncos. They scored four more runs in the second.
Santa Clara drove in two runs in the top of the third, in a two-out rally that started with Casandra Padilla's single to through the right side. Newell followed with a single to the left side, and Scribner added a single of her own, loading the bases. Biagini was hit by a pitch, scoring Padilla. Jaime Wallis worked the count and earned a walk, scoring Newell.
Nevada answered with another run in the bottom of the third and scored two more in the bottom of the sixth to end the game after six innings with a 10-2 decision for Nevada.
Briana Rios got the start for Santa Clara, and lasted one plus inning. She allowed seven hits and seven runs while striking out one. Turner came on in the second inning and closed out the game for the Broncos, allowing five hits and three runs.
