Bronco Briefs: Baseball sweeps San Francisco in three
By Brian Betz
Baseball
SCU 5, San Francisco 2
Santa Clara registered five hits in the second inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead, which they would never relinquish. Senior leftfielder Scott Dierks hit his 11th home run of the season later in the seventh to secure the win. Senior pitcher Matt Travis picked up the win, throwing seven innings while striking out six.
SCU 7, San Francisco 3
Down 2-1 after two innings of play, Santa Clara scored three in the third and three in the seventh to pull away and capture game two of the three game series. Senior pitcher Joe Diefenderfer improved to 5-3 on the hill, going seven innings with five strikeouts. Junior pitcher Chad Fillinger came in to record the final six outs, allowing just two base runners.
SCU 7, San Francisco 3
The Broncos completed the series sweep Sunday and stretched their winning streak to six with the four-run win. Dierks sparked a four-run first with his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field. After senior second baseman Jack Headley's double, senior catcher Jim Wallace went opposite field for the two-run home run. Santa Clara improves to 16-19 on the year, 8-4 in West Coast Conference action.
Softball
SCU 2, Loyola Marymount 1
The women's softball team opened the inaugural Pacific Coast Softball Conference with a win this past Saturday. Tied 1-1 in the sixth, freshman infielder Shannon Linerud hit a single with the bases loaded to score freshman Jessica Clee to secure the victory. Junior starting pitcher Jaime Forman-Lau, who was named PCSC Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time on the season, pitched a complete game two-hitter, striking out six of the last seven hitters she faced before finishing with 11 on the afternoon.
Loyola Marymount 4, SCU 3 (10)
In Saturday's nightcap, the Lions scored the decisive run on a ninth inning wild pitch. Santa Clara senior first baseman Tracie Hall recorded her fifth home run of the season in the loss, while sophomore first baseman Lacey Smale went 2-for-3. Freshman pitcher Liz Courter picked up the loss in the complete game effort.
Loyola Marymount 2, SCU 1
Sunday's doubleheader against the Lions started out on a sour note, as LMU hurler Samantha Lavino held the Broncos order to just three hits in seven innings. Santa Clara's only run came in the form of a Sami Strinz solo home run in the seventh, before Lavino closed out the win.
SCU 3, Loyola Marymount 0
Santa Clara notched its 20th win on the season in Sunday's nightcap, marking only the fourth time in the team's 25-year history they have reached that plateau. Sophomore pitcher Kelley Johnson hit her first career home run, while Courtier improved to 7-6 in just four innings of work. The Broncos now stand at 20-18 on the year, 2-2 in PCSC play, and look to hit the road this Saturday at Saint Mary's.
Women's Tennis
Idaho 5, SCU 2
Freshmen Casey Knutson and Nicole Jackson were the only two Broncos to win in singles action Saturday, each in straight sets at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. The tandem of senior Ashley Campbell and junior Jenny Siegel won at No. 3 doubles, but it was not enough to get the doubles point.
SCU 5, Northern Arizona 1
Santa Clara bounced back in Saturday's second contest against NAU, as they took four of five singles matches to secure the victory.
Senior Christine Limbers and sophomore Janalle Kaloi led the team with straight set wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.
Fresno St. 7, SCU 0
Santa Clara closed out their regular season with a loss to the No. 25 Bulldogs, which drops their overall record to an even 9-9. Up next for the squad is the WCC Championship hosted by Pepperdine, April 12-14.
Men's Tennis
Fresno St. 5, SCU 2
The No. 38 Bulldogs swept doubles action and took four of six singles matches to win Saturday's match. Seniors Federico Mattioli and Michael Bruggemann were the only two victorious Broncos, winning at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively.
Women's Water Polo
SCU 9, Alumni 7
In the first-ever alumni game, freshman Bryn Asher and senior Elizabeth Glotzbach each netted hat tricks, while the alumni were led by 2002 graduate Sarah Schmitt's three goals.