SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Taryn Clements drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the pitching staff tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to complete Santa Clara softball's three game sweep of San Diego with a 5-3 win on Saturday under threatening skies at SCU Softball Stadium. Just as they did in the first two games, the Broncos fell behind early only to pullout a comeback victory to claim their first West Coast Conference sweep since they did it at San Diego last season. SCU has now won seven-straight games against the Toreros.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- With the game tied at 3-all in the sixth, Clements came through with a two-run single to give Santa Clara (22-19, 7-2 WCC) their first lead of the game to help complete the comeback after falling behind 3-0 in the first.
- San Diego (16-23, 3-6 WCC) scored three runs in the opening frame, all coming after two outs. SCU starter Hazyl Gray retired the first two batters to start the game but issued two free passes and allowed them to score on Abrielle Diaz's double. Diaz would eventually steal home to make it 3-0. Cari Ferguson came in relief of Gray to get the final out of the inning and she was followed by Avery Seva and Ellison Schroeder who combined to give up four hits and three walks the rest of the way while shutting out the Toreros offense.
- Santa Clara got a run back in the third on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. An RBI base hit by Cairah Curran trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the fourth before being gifted with the game-tying run on a fielding error by pitcher Kaitlyn Bartlow on a comebacker by Gray.
- In the sixth, Curran drew a leadoff walk, followed by a Rebecca Rubio to start the inning. With one out, Marie Martorella reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases as the shortstop Liliana Esparz threw the ball away at third trying to get the lead runner out. Clements singled to center to bring Curran and Rubio home to put the Broncos up 5-3.
- Clements reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Curran and Rubio scored twice each.
- Schroeder pitched the final 3 1/3 innings to pick up her second win of the series and 10th of the year to lead the Broncos.
HIGHLIGHTS:
POST-GAME INTERVIEW:
NEXT UP:
- The Broncos play a three-game series at Pacific starting Friday.
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