PHOENIX – Santa Clara softball opened the 2026 season with a pair of victories against Southern Utah 8-3 and Weber State 6-4 at the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Classic on Friday.
Game 1: Santa Clara 8 - Southern Utah 3
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Santa Clara (1-0) had three players with multiple RBIs while Avery Seva and Ellison Schroeder combined for a solid outing in the circle to give the Broncos a season opening 8-3 win against Southern Utah (0-3).
- The reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year Cairah Curran led the way going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Her two-run triple to plate Mackenzie Olshenske and Elle Merlino in the second inning gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish.
- In the top of the third, the Broncos put up four runs push the lead out to 6-1 on Robynn Balmediano's two-run single along with RBI base hits by Caitlyn Golob and Curran.
- Avery Seva got the opening day nod inside the circle to pitch into the fifth inning. She was replaced by the freshman, Schroeder, who pitched the rest of the way to pick up a three inning save. Seva was credited with the win scattering five hits and allowing two runs over four innings.
- Merlino scored a game-high three runs.
- Arianna Ramirez had three hits and two RBIs for Southern Utah.
- Thunderbirds starter Delaney Baker was the losing pitcher of record.
Game 2: Santa Clara 6 - Weber State 4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Cari Ferguson, last season's WCC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, tossed a completed game and Rebecca Rubio came through with a two-run go-ahead single in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Weber State, 6-4, in the battle between two NCAA Tournament qualifiers from last season.
- Ferguson overcame a game filled with defensive miscues totaling seven errors, four by Santa Clara and three by Weber State. None of the four runs given up by the Bronco hurler was earned.
- Santa Clara (2-0) squandered a three run lead, giving up a run in the fourth and three in the fifth, all on the aforementioned errors to trail 4-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth.
- In the sixth, Elle Merle led off with a bunt single and Caitlyn Golob drew a walk against Jade Curiel. After a pitching change to Joslynn Veltien, Cairah Curran moved the runners over to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Rubio singled through the right side to plate the speedy duo for the game-tying and go-ahead runs.
- Hazyl Gray, who homered in the first, added an insurance run doubling home Rubio for her third RBI of the game.
- Ferguson finished with a career-high nine strikeouts. She allowed five hits, issued a pair of walks and threw 133 pitches over seven innings.
- Sadie Kirk had two of the five hits for Weber State (0-1) and drove in two runs.
NOTES:
- Four freshmen made their Bronco debuts - Olshenske, Schroeder, Claire Krotine and Lillie Brooks.
- The 133 pitches thrown by Ferguson was two shy of her career-high set against Pacific last April.
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara plays Weber State once again on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. PT followed by a 3 p.m. game against tournament host, Grand Canyon in a rematch from last season's Tucson Regional at the NCAA Tournament.
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