RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Finishing up the Highlander Classic, Santa Clara softball (5-13) lost to Utah State (6-8) 5-1 and UC Riverside (15-6) 8-0 in five innings on Sunday afternoon.

Game 1
Justine Garner hit her first collegiate home run to lead off the bottom of the second and give Santa Clara a 1-0 lead.

Some sloppy defense cost the Broncos in the top of the third. A walk and a pair of errors tied the game with no one out. After two outs, Brina Buttacavoli singled in the go ahead run.

Another error to start the fifth led to the third run of the day for the Aggies before they scored two more in the sixth.

Micaela Vierra (4-7) went the distance for Santa Clara but got the loss. She allowed five runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Garner was responsible the lone Bronco run with her home run in the second.

Katie Schroeder (2-0) tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts and just one run allowed.

Jazmine Clarke was 3-4 with a run scored and Buttacavoli picked up two RBI.

Game 2
Santa Clara fell behind 2-0 in the first inning and wouldn't be able to recover.

McCall James (2-6) started for the Broncos but lasted just 0.1 innings. She allowed two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout.

A leadoff walk and a single set up a five-run inning in the second for the Highlanders. Haley Harris knocked in the first run with a single through the right side. An error let the next run come in and a grounder made it a 5-0 lead.

Alexis Lockwood came up with a two-run single to right to cap the inning before the Broncos finally got the third out.

Jenna Curtan was 1-3 with three RBI and Lockwood added a pair of RBI as well. Harris and Natalie Sanchez each scored two runs.

Garner and Kelsie Barnard had the only two hits for Santa Clara and Ellie Fisher drew a walk.

Kaylynn Pierce (7-2) allowed just two hits with a walk and three strikeouts in the 5.0-inning complete game.

Santa Clara returns to action Friday at 3:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. vs. Wisconsin and UNLV in the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas.