Santa Clara, Calif. – Freshman Ciara Gonzales tossed her first career shutout allowing just three San Diego hits and the Broncos snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 1-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
San Diego avoided the sweep by returning the favor with a 1-0 win in game two behind Jenny Lahitte, who allowed six hits and struckout nine Santa Clara batters for her 10th win of the season.
Santa Clara broke the scoreless game one tie in the sixth with a two-out rally. After Stephanie Fisher flied out and pinch-hitter Jenna Krummen struck out, Chiara Biagini lined a single to right center and got into scoring position when Kelly Scribner was hit by a pitch. Jordan Newell then drove a single to left scoring the only run.
The Broncos put the leadoff batter on in each of the first three innings but failed to dent the scoreboard. Jamie Wallis opened the Santa Clara first with a single that dropped in front of shortstop Danielle Mavridis but was erased on a fielders choice. Fisher and Jaymi Bautista-Geiger were retired to end the threat.
Biagini opened the second inning with a walk and advanced to second on a two-out single from Rochelle Rivera, but Krista Jensen was called out on strikes.
Wallis led off the third with a double off the fence in center field and watched as Cassandra Padilla and Fisher both went down swinging. Wallis was picked off after the third strike on Fisher.
Gonzales went the distance for the sixth time this season and improved to 2-12. She walked three and struck out a batter. San Diego threatened in the first after Morgan Kurtz ledoff with a single and was sacrificed to second, but she was stranded there.
Mary Grabowski opened the fourth with a double and Mickell Escobar walked with two out. Mavridis grounded out to second to end the threat.
San Diego scored an unearned run in the first for the only score in game two. Kurtz opened the frame with a sharp grounder back to the circle that Carissa Theis gloved but her throw sailed over Scribner at first and Kurtz took third. She scored on a two-out single from Lauren Tomey.
Theis went five innings allowing five hits with three strikeouts and a walk but fell to 3-15. Jessica Turner pitched two perfect innings in relief.
The Broncos had a runner thrown out at home in the second and had the tying and winning runs in scoring position in the seventh but failed to push across the equalizer.
The split of the doubleheader leaves Santa Clara at 7-44 overall and 4-18 in PCSC play. San Diego is 23-28 and 8-14. The teams complete the series on Sunday with another doubleheader at noon.
