SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball lost both ends of a doubleheader Friday in the first home action of the year at the Silicon Valley Classic I. The Broncos (1-8) fell to CSU Bakersfield (5-4) 6-5 and Montana (2-10) 5-1.

GAME 1
In a back-and-forth game, CSU Bakersfield took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the sixth. A leadoff walk to Chris Hipa led to a run when Cydney Curran followed with a triple that evened the score at 5-all. Paige Johnson followed with a ground ball that brought in Hipa for the game-winning run.

Johnson and Makayla Lopez both finished with two RBIs with Curran adding two hits, an RBI, and three runs scored.

Julie Lewis (1-1) got the win with an inning of scoreless relief and Daryn Hitzel got the save with 1 1/3 perfect innings. Kiara Azevedo started and got a no-decision in 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout.

After the Roadrunners had taken a lead in the fifth with three runs, Santa Clara came back with two of its own in the bottom of the frame. Eleni Spirakis led off the inning with a double and came in on a triple two batters later by Sammy Needham. Hannah Russell followed with a single to make it 5-4.

Spirakis led the offense with two hits and a pair of runs with Regan Dias adding two RBIs and a run scored.

Lauren Anderson got a no-decision in the 4-inning start, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with a pair of walks. Aubree Kim (0-3) took the loss in an 1 2/3 out of the bullpen. She allowed two runs on a hit with three walks and three strikeouts.

GAME 2
The Grizzlies jumped out to a quick 3-0 lad in the second inning and wouldn't look back, adding two more in the fifth.

Maygen McGrath and Katie Pippel both hit a two-run home runs to lead the offense. McKenna Tjaden added a pair of hits, including a double, and a run scored and Lexi Knaus had an RBI and a double.

Tristin Achenbach (1-1) went the distance, allowing a run on four hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.

The Broncos didn't get their first hit until the fourth inning and got on the board in the sixth. With two on and one out, Kelsie Barnard singled to center to bring home Eleni Spirakis who had led off the inning with an infield single.

Anderson (1-4) took the loss in 2 innings. She allowed three runs on four hits with a strikeout.

Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram