SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball had the tying run at second base in the bottom of the seventh but Cal reliever Miranda De Nava got Hazyl Gray to ground out for the final out to thwart the Bronco comeback attempt in Cal's 3-2 victory in a nonconference tilt on Tuesday.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Cal (31-16) scored a run in the first inning and two in the third off Santa Clara starter Avery Seva to go up 3-0.  Elon Butler led off the game with a double and came home on Tianna Bell's grounder to put the Bears up 1-0.  Butler got the offense started again with a one out single in the third.  Cal got back-to-back extra hits, a triple by Lagi Quiroga and a double by Acacia Anders to push the lead out to 3-0.  Five of the eight hits by Cal went for extra bases.  
• Santa Clara (27-17) answered with a run in the fifth, aided by an error.  Cairah Curran drew a walk against starter Ryann Orange and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher on an attempted back pick.  Rebecca Rubio's single scored Curran to make it 3-1.  Miranda De Nava came in relief and induced Hope Alley to a double play to end the inning.  The unearned run was the only run given up by Orange in her 4 1/3 innings of work to get the win.  
• Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, pinch hitter Taryn Clements walked on four straight pitches to lead off the inning.  Cailyn Golob re-entered the game replacing Clements on the bases and moved to third on a grounder and wild pitch.  With two outs, Hope Alley came through with an RBI single up the middle against her former team to get the Broncos within a run.  She stole second to get into scoring position but Gray grounded out to short as she dove head first trying to beat the throw.
• De Nava pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to earn her first save of the season.    

NEXT UP:

• Santa Clara welcomes San José State on Wednesday in the Battle of the Alameda.  First pitch is at 5 p.m.  Click here to purchase tickets.           

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