SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball took both doubleheader games against Montana, winning the first game 10-0 and the second game 7-1 on Saturday at the SCU Softball Stadium. The Broncos have now won four of their last five games.
Game 1: Santa Clara 10 - Montana 0 (5)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Santa Clara (12-14) scored 10 runs on nine hits and Cari Ferguson tossed a five inning shutout in the 10-0 run-rule victory.
- The Broncos scored two runs in the first and third innings and blew the game open with six runs in the fourth taking advantage of four Grizzlies errors.
- Rebecca Rubio and Kyla Acres each drove in a pair of runs while Taryn Clements had two hits to lead the SCU offense.
- Facing Montana starter Kaiana Kong, Rubio brought in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly and Clements doubled in a run to put the Broncos up 2-0 and never looked back.
- Ferguson allowed seven hits and struck out three to improve to 6-7 on the year.
- Leadoff batter Grace Lopez had two of the hits for Montana (4-18).
Game 2: Santa Clara 7 - Montana 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Ellison Schroeder threw six strong innings while Leiora Davidson and Elle Merlino combined for five of the 10 hits to send Santa Clara past Montana 7-1 in game two of the doubleheader.
- Schroeder had a 1-2-3 inning in four of the six innings she pitched. The first base runner she allowed came in the fourth when Grace Lopez led off the frame with a double to right center. Lopez moved to third on a wild pitch and came home when centerfielder Caitlyn Golob's throw home got past the catcher which cut into the Broncos lead 2-1.
- Leading by a run, Santa Clara scored twice on RBI singles by Elle Merlino and Rebecca Rubio in the home half of the fourth to push the lead out to 4-1.
- Audrey Graham knocked in a run with a base hit in the fifth and Santa Clara added two more in the sixth courtesy of Robynn Balemdiano and Elle Merlino singles for the final margin of 7-1.
- Just as she did in the first game, Lopez had two hits for Montana (4-19) who lost their 13 straight game.
- Schroeder earned the win for Santa Clara (13-14) as she gave up five hits and struck out two. Kendal Manley came in relief to throw a scorelss seventh. The Bronco pitching staff did not allow a single walk in the doubleheader.
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara will look to sweep Montana in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is at 11 a.m. PT.
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