SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara softball closed out the Silicon Valley Classic I Tournament on a high note behind the pitching of Sage Hager and timely hitting by Sammy Needham, defeating Cal Poly 1-0 on Sunday.

In a pitcher's duel between Hager and Mustangs hurler Krystyna Allman, Needham broke the scoreless deadlock in the sixth when she delivered a double to score Emma Bickford.

Through the first five innings, Allman kept the Broncos (8-9) bats in check, allowing just two hits.  However, in the sixth, Bickford singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Needham scorched a 2-2 pitch to the right center gap to plate Bickford for the lone run of the game.

Meanwhile, Hager (4-0) had another solid outing scattering six hits over seven innings for her first career shutout and third complete game.

Cal Poly (0-10) had a base hit in each of the first five innings but Hager managed to keep the Mustangs off the scoring column.  Cal Poly's best chance to score came in the third when singles by Malia Mah and Noellah Ramos put runners at the corners with two outs, but Hager got Maddie Amos to ground out to end the inning.

Mah was the only player in the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.  Ashley Trierweiler, Bickford, Needham and Sarah Ellersick each had a hit for the Broncos.

Allman (0-3) was the losing allowing four hits, a run and three walks over six innings. 

Santa Clara finished the SVC I Tournament with a 2-3 record including a game played at San José State who co-hosted the tournament.  

NEXT UP

Santa Clara welcomes Mount St. Mary's to SCU Softball Stadium on Tuesday for a doubleheader.  First pitch is at 2 p.m. 

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