April 23, 2005

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. - Santa Clara University softball earned a 7-2 victory over Saint Mary's in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action today at Cottrell Field and improve their record to 22-29, 5-9. The Gaels won their first league game with a 3-2 win in the nightcap and are now 8-40, 1-13.

In game one, the Gaels got on the board early but could not hold on for the victory. SMC tallied its lone run in the bottom of the first when Lauren Mello recorded a one-out base-hit to right field that scored Bronwyn Russell. The Gaels out-hit the Broncos 8-7 but left 11 runners on base.

The Broncos rallied and tack on two runs in the second and then put the game away with a five-run third. Sabrina Franks provided the punch for SCU with a three-run homerun in the top of the third.

Liz Courter (11-14) earned the victory for the Broncos. Courter threw four innings and allowed six hits and one run while striking out five. Chelsea Loftis (1-4) tallied the loss after allowing six hits and three earned runs in three innings.

In game two, after trailing 1-0 at the end of two innings, the Gaels evened the score when Russell slapped the ball down the leftfield line that scored Shelly Taketa.

SMC tacked on two more runs to secure the victory in the bottom of the sixth inning. Eleni Papailias started the rally with a double off the leftfield wall. Claudia Williams then doubled in Papailias with a shot to centerfield. Mello drove Williams home with a single to right field. The Gaels tallied five hits from five different players.

The Broncos will face the Gaels in a second doubleheader Sunday at noon. Santa Clara will then return home to host the final games of the regular season, vs. San Diego on April 30 and May 1.