SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball played a pair of games against nationally ranked powerhouses in No. 16 Arizona and No. 3 Texas on Saturday at Santa Clara Softball Stadium, staying within striking distance through the middle innings before succumbing to big run innings late to fall 11-1 against the Wildcats and 10-2 against the defending national champions, Longhorns.
Game 1: #16 Arizona 11 - Santa Clara 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sereniti Trice and Jenna Sniffen drove in a combined seven runs as part of a 13-hit, 11-run attack by No. 16 Arizona (11-4) to defeat Santa Clara 11-1.
- Through the first three innings, Arizona only led 2-1. The Wildcats took advantage of a pair of walks and a hit bats man by Bronco starter Ellison Schroeder to plate two runs in the opening frame.
- The Broncos (6-7) cut the lead in half on Rebecca Rubio's RBI double in the third but the Wildcats answered with three runs in the fourth to open a 5-1 lead on Sniffen and Trice's base knocks.
- The score remained that way until Arizona blew the game open with six runs in the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate. Sniffen and Trice once again were in the middle of action driving in two runs each.
- Jalen Adams started in the circle going the first four innings before giving way to Sarah Wright. The duo allowed just five hits and a walk. Adams picked up her seventh win of the year and Wright earned her second save.
Game 2: #3 Texas 10 - Santa Clara 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- No. 3 Texas (13-1) banged out 17 total hits including eight batters with multi-hit games. Kayden Henry went 3-for-4 and scored three times while MaTaia Lawson drove in three runs.
- The Longhorns struck for one run in the top of the first and Katie Stewart blasted a two-run home run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
- Santa Clara (6-8) got on the board in the home half of the fourth on Kyla Acres' solo homer, the first of her career, to make it 3-1.
- Texas got the run back in the fifth and struck for five more in the sixth to open a 9-1 lead. Three of the runs came on Lawson's home run.
- Kendal Manley homered for the Broncos, hitting a solo shot in the sixth. It was also her first career round tripper.
- Brenlee Gonzales pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win giving up two hits and one run. Cari Ferguson started in the circle for the Broncos and was responsible for giving up four runs over 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara plays their fourth and final game of the DeMarini Invite at the new Stanford Softball Stadium on Sunday. First pitch is at 2:30 p.m. PT.
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