SEATTLE – Cari Ferguson tossed a five-hit shutout in a pitchers duel with Maya Mesa to clinch the series win for Santa Clara softball over Seattle U, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Logan Field. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the second on Cairah Curran's bases loaded single as the Broncos maintained pace with West Coast Conference leader Saint Mary's. The Gaels beat LMU to stay three games clear of Santa Clara with four games left to play in the regular season. Saint Mary's sits atop the league standings at 12-2 while Santa Clara and LMU are tied for second at 9-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Ferguson tight roped around some issues for her ninth complete game and third shutout of the season to improve to 10-10. The sophomore hurler left two Seattle U runners stranded in the first, fifth and sixth innings holding them to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. In total the Redhawks left seven on base.
- Santa Clara (24-23, 9-5 WCC) went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position as that one hit turned out to be the difference in the game.
- In the top of the second, three straight batters reached base against Mesa - Robynn Balmediano singled, Leiora Davidson drew a walk and Audrey Graham was hit by a pitch. With one down and the bases full, Mesa struck out Elle Merlino for the second out but Cairah Curran came through poking a single through the left side to plate Balmediano for the only run of the contest.
- Seattle (19-28, 5-9 WCC) had five hits against Ferguson along with two hit batsman but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities . They had runners in scoring position in the first but the Bronco pitcher got Karen Spadafora to fly out for the final out. In the fifth with two outs, Sophia Kissling was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on Avari Morris' single, only to be stranded when Ferguson induced a grounder to get out of the inning. And in the sixth, Ferguson once again pitched out of the jam with two runners on, fanning Abbie Fales and grounding out Brooklyn Jones.
- Ferguson lowered her season ERA to 2.63 nudging ahead of Ellison Schroeder's 2.65 to re-take the team lead.
- Mesa also went the distance and dropped to 2-4 on the year.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NEXT UP:
- The series wraps up on Sunday at noon PT.
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