SANTA CLARA – Santa Clara softball's hopes for a repeat West Coast Conference championship and a return to the NCAA Tournament came up short against Saint Mary's in a tightly contested Friday game at a sold out SCU Softball Stadium on national television. Hannah Ferguson delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh to break a 2-2 deadlock and Odhi Vasquez pitched a complete game for the Gaels who claimed their second outright WCC title in three seasons with a 3-2 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Saint Mary's (39-14, 14-3 WCC) struck first for the second straight game putting up two runs in the top of the second off Santa Clara starter Ellison Schroeder. Tori Cervantes and Taylor Lane delivered back-to-back RBI base hits with two outs. Cervantes doubled down the left field line to plate Braxton Brown and Lane brought home Cervantes with a single up the middle.
- Facing the Gaels ace Vasquez, Santa Clara (26-24, 11-6 WCC) responded in the home half of the second to tie it up on Leiora Davidson's bases loaded single. The Broncos got a pair of walks and a hit to start the inning and Davidson's hard grounder deflected off the glove of the diving third baseman to score Taryn Clement and Marie Martorella. SCU still had runners at first and second with no out but Vasquez hunkered down to fan Robynn Balmediano got Elle Merlino lined into a double play to escape the jam.
- In the fourth, the first two Gaels reached base but the lead runner at second was picked off by Clements on a back pick. Cervantes got her second base hit of the game to once again have two runners on base but Cari Ferguson came in relief and retired the next two batters to leave them stranded on the bases.
- The score remained tied until the seventh when H. Ferguson came through with her RBI single. Lauren Tran pinch hit for Mia Zabat and was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Zabat re-entered the game on the bases and moved to second on Camille Lara's infield hit before coming around to score the game winning run. The Gaels were poised to add some insurance runs when they loaded the bases with no out but C. Ferguson retired the next three batters to keep it a one run game.
- Vasquez had a shutout inning in the bottom of the seventh striking out the side as the Gaels celebrated.
- The Gaels hurler gave up the two runs on four hits. She walked a pair and struck out eight to improve to 19-4 on the year. C. Ferguson was saddled with the loss in her 3 2/3 innings of work.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara and Saint Mary's play the series finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. to close out the regular season. The game is sold out.
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