SANTA CLARA – All eight Santa Clara softball seniors got the starting nod in the regular season finale against Saint Mary's to wrap up the 2026 campaign. While the Broncos fell 11-3 to the Gaels on Senior Day, the Bronco seniors - Kyla Acres, Robynn Balmediano, Leiora Davidson, Hazyl Gray, Jacqueline Lemus, Marie Martorella, Kendal Manley and Mariah Montalvo - contributed to the team that set a program record for the most wins over a three year span with 88 ecliping the previous high of 86 wins from 2003-05 and tied for the most West Coast Conference single season wins in program history with 11.
The departing Broncos were recognized in a pregame ceremony ceremony with families, friends and pets in tow in front of a third straight sellout crowd at the SCU Softball Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Saint Mary's (40-14, 15-3 WCC) scored 11 runs on 10 hits, led by Hannah Ferguson who went 3-for-3 and Braxton Brown's five RBIs. Ferguson along with Sam Buckley, who reached base in each of her four plate appearances, scored three times each. Ella Thurman threw a complete game in the five inning run-rule game.
- The Gaels bats came out hot putting up nine unanswered runs through the first four innings with two in the first, three in the second and four in the fourth before the Broncos could respond with three runs of their won in the fourth. Saint Mary's added two more runs in the fifth to get the requisite eight-run lead needed for the run-rule victory.
- Manley got the start inside the circle and gave up three runs before Gray came in relief who allowed six to come across. Alex Cutonilli brought home the first two runs with a single in the opening frame. The next inning, Ferguson and Brown pushed across three more runs with a pair of singles. In the fourth, Brown added to her RBI total with a bases loaded two-run single. On the play, there were two defensive miscues by the Broncos that helped clear the bases.
- In the third, Lemus laced a single to left center to pick up her second career hit in her final at-bat before she was lifted for Mackenzie Olshenke on the bases.
- Santa Clara (26-25, 11-7 WCC) finally got on the board in the fourth coming through with three runs. With runners in scoring position, Davidson's grounder was booted by Sam Buckley at third to allow both runners to score. Olshenske doubled in a run to cut the deficit to 9-3.
- The Gaels pushed the lead back out to eight runs when Buckley drew a bases loaded walk and Brown had an RBI grounder in the final inning.
- Thurman got her seventh win on the year while Manley dropped to 1-1.
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