LOS ANGELES – Santa Clara softball was two outs away from completing the sweep of LMU in the West Coast Conference opening series but were able to close it out allowing two runs to score in the bottom of the seventh to lose 3-2 in a walkoff fashion on Sunday afternoon at Smith Field.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Entering the seventh, Santa Clara (17-17, 2-1 WCC) held a one-run lead with Cari Ferguson in the circle.  McKenna Charbonneau led off the inning with a single and after a strike out to Mya Allen, Ferguson was lifted in favor of Ellison Schroeder.  The freshman hurler hit Avery Francis and walked Izzy Jamgotchian to load the bases.  The next batter, Sydney Poole grounded out to second but the throw from Cairah Curran to home was a tad bit high as the initial out call was overturned after a replay review showed catcher Taryn Clements' foot came off the home plate while reaching up for the catch as pinch-runner Analiah Lummus's slide got underneath to tie the game up.  With Taelor Walker batting, Schroeder uncorked a wild pitch to allow the game-winning run to score.  
• LMU (23-13, 1-2 WCC) struck first scoring a run in the third.  Walker doubled and came home on Mika Yuge's single to centerfield.  The throw from Caitlyn Golob to home got to Clements on time but Walker's slide knocked both the ball and the glove from the Broncos catcher.  
• Just as they did all series, Santa Clara answered the next inning.  Rebecca Rubio laid down a bunt single to start the fourth and Hazyl Gray drew a walk before both runners advanced on a wild pitch.  Clements then put down a bunt to score Rubio to knot the game up at one run apiece. 
• The Broncos went ahead in the fifth on Elle Merlino's solo home run to break the 1-all tie.  Merlino pulled a 1-2 pitch from Sawyer Denser over the right field fence for her second homer of the season.  
• In the top of the seventh, SCU looked to add an insurance run putting a runner at second.  But Lindsay O'Dell came in relief with one out and retired the next two Broncos to keep it a one-run game and eventually earned her league-leading 11th victory.  
• Schroeder took the loss, dropping to 7-6.  
• Francis and Rubio each had two hits for their teams.  

HIGHLIGHTS:

T5 | Four-bagger! pic.twitter.com/0QeJMFj0Q3

— Santa Clara Softball (@SCUSoftball) March 29, 2026

• Santa Clara welcomes Oregon State for a three-game WCC series starting on Thursday.           

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