FRESNO, Calif. – The Santa Clara University softball team dropped its first two games of the Fresno State Weekend Series at Bulldog Diamond on Saturday, losing the four-game opener 9-2 to Cal State Fullerton, then suffering a 7-0 setback to host Fresno State.
Santa Clara (1-7) jumped out in front of CS Fullerton (4-4) in the morning game, when junior outfielder Jamie Wallis tripled-home Stephanie Fisher who had singled earlier in the inning.
However, the Bronco lead was short-lived. The Titans answered back with a six-run first inning of their own. Fullerton loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk off SCU starter Carissa Theis (1-2) before Anissa Young hit a bases-clearing drive to centerfield, a grand slam that gave Fullerton a 4-1 lead.
The Broncos scored again in the second inning on Kelly Scribner's lead-off shot to left-centerfield. It was Scribner's team-leading second homerun of the season, and made the score 6-2. Despite a gutty relief effort from freshman Jaymi Bautista-Geiger, Santa Clara would fall 9-2.
In the afternoon game, host Fresno State (5-2) kept Santa Clara hitless through the first three innings, with senior Mackenzie Oakes going on to register a complete-game two-hit shutout.
Jessica Turner (0-3) worked two innings and rookie Briana Rios came on to pitch four innings of four-hit softball. But the Bronco offense was held in check by Oakes and a Bulldog team that would shutout CS Fullerton 2-0 later in the day.
The Broncos will play both teams again Sunday. For the very latest on Santa Clara softball, follow the team's official Twitter page (@SCUSoftball) and the Bronco softball Facebook page for updates and information throughout the year.
