SARATOGA, Calif. – The University of San Diego softball team ran its unbeaten streak to nine, sweeping host Santa Clara University in a doubleheader at West Valley College by scores of 11-2 and 8-2.
Santa Clara (6-21; 2-8 PCSC) has seen its roster decimated by injuries. All-league outfielder Briana Knight and the team's top hitter from 2010, infielder Kristin Welsh, were out Friday.
Meanwhile, San Diego (19-14; 9-1) is red hot, winning its ninth straight to improve to 9-1 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. Jessica Tieszen hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Game One on Friday to put the Toreros up immediately and USD would never trail the rest of the day, out-hitting SCU 20-8.
Tieszen finished the day 5 for 7 with nine RBI and five runs. She went 3 for 4 in Game Two with three RBI singles off Santa Clara freshman starter Jessica Turner (1-13), who took the loss. Cassidy Coleman (5-4) and Chelsea Velovich pitched USD to the win in Game Two, combining to strikeout nine while allowing just four hits.
San Diego's Game One starter Kaitlin Healy (8-4) tossed a complete-game four-hitter, striking out seven. Jenna Fong (5-7) was the pitcher of record for the Broncos in the opener. Freshman Stephanie Fisher went 4 for 5 and scored twice to pace Santa Clara's offense but the story Friday was USD's pitching.
Coleman and Velovich sat down 12 straight Bronco batters during the middle innings of Game Two and Healy retired 12 of 13 to close out Game One.
The series will resume Saturday, with a doubleheader scheduled for 12 noon in Saratoga.
