SEATTLE – Down by two runs in the top of the seventh and with the season on the line, Santa Clara softball rallied for three runs to complete the sweep of Seattle U 7-6 on Sunday to remain in contention for the West Coast Conference title. Taryn Clements delivered a clutch two-RBI double to knot the game at 6-all and an error by the shortstop Aurora Zepeda on Robynn Balmediano's chopper allowed the game-winning run to come across.
In the home half of the seventh, Seattle U put the potential game-tying run on base but the final out was the result of an illegal batter as Karen Spadafora who was pinch run for an inning earlier, was not officially reported as having re-entered the game. Spadafora got hit by a pitch and soon after SCU head coach Gina Carbonatto brought the infraction to the home plate umpire's attention who called Spadafora out to end the game.
League leader Saint Mary's (13-2 WCC) won their series finale against LMU, setting up a showdown for the WCC championship next weekend between Santa Clara and Saint Mary's. The three-game series starts on Thursday. A sweep by Santa Clara will give both teams an identical 13-5 league mark to share the co-championship but the Broncos will get the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament due to the head-to-head/series win. However, one win by Saint Mary's in the series will give them the outright championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Santa Clara (25-23, 10-5 WCC) trailed 6-4 in the final inning but the first two batters safely got on base when Rebecca Rubio reached on an error, followed by a Hazyl Gray double. Clements tied it up, lacing a two-bagger to right center to score Rubio and Gray. Mackenzie Olshenske then pinch ran for Clements and advanced to third on Marie Martorella's sacrifice bunt. The second error of the inning and the fifth overall in the game by the Redhawks allowed Olshenske to score for the go-ahead run.
- Seattle U (19-29, 5-10 WCC) had 12 hits in the game and had several chances to break the game open but could not capitalize. Prior to the sixth, they loaded the bases in three different innings and failed to get a run across each time. However, they finally broke through when the bases full opportunity came knocking again in the sixth with the score in favor of SCU 4-2. Abbie Fales singled up the middle to get the Redhawks within a run and Brooklyn Jones gave them a lead singling in a pair of runs. Sophia Kissling added another run as they took a 6-4 lead to the seventh.
- Clements finished with a game-high three RBIs. She had two hits along with Cairah Curran and Balmediano.
- Seattle U also had a trio of players - Taylor Fitch, Ava Sin and Fales - with multi-hit games. Fitch had a solo homer in the third.
- Cari Ferguson (11-10) pitched the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pick up the win while Ellison Schroeder who started the game, came in relief to close out the seventh, picked up her third save of the year.
- Morris (4-10) suffered the loss giving up four runs, just one earned, over her 3 1/3 innings of work.
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara hosts Saint Mary's in the final series of the season starting on Thursday.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat
Softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
