STOCKTON, Calif. – Olivia Silvestre belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to break a 3-all tie that proved to be the difference as Pacific defeated Santa Clara softball 6-3 on Saturday. SCU's loss came on the heels of Friday night's series opening 7-2 defeat to give the Broncos their first West Coast Conference series loss in nearly two seasons.
Santa Clara had not lost in the last 11 WCC series, winning 10 of them and tying one. The last time they lost a WCC series was against LMU during the 2024 season (April 19-21).
Saturday's result dropped second place Santa Clara three games behind in the loss column to league leader Saint Mary's. The Broncos are 7-4 in league play while the Gaels are 7-1, who have played one less WCC series thus far.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- For the second straight game, Pacific (15-29, 3-8 WCC) jumped out to an early lead putting up three runs in the third. Silvestre, who finished with four RBIs, drove in her first run on a ground out with runners in scoring position. Zaedi Tagalog followed with an RBI single to double the lead to 2-0. Tagalog then moved to third on a pair of wild pitches and came around to score on catcher Taryn Clements' throwing error as she tried to throw out Tagalog at third who was advancing on the wild pitch.
- Santa Clara (22-21, 7-4 WCC) answered right back in the top of the fourth putting up three runs of their own. Hazyl Gray reached base on a bunt single and Marie Martorella homered to get the Broncos within a run at 3-2. After a pitching change to Sophia Lambaren, both Clements and Leiora Davidson drew a walk and advanced a base on Audrey Graham's ground out. Elle Merlino singled to plate Clements for the tying run but Davidson was thrown out at home by Tagalog from centerfield to keep the game level at three runs apiece.
- In the home half of the fourth, with runners at second and third, Silvestre took a full count offering by Ellison Schroeder and deposited the ball over the left field wall to deliver the game-winning runs.
- Lambaren (1-3) allowed one run in four innings of relief to earn her first win of the season.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NEXT UP:
- The Broncos and the Tigers close out the series on Sunday at noon PT.
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