Softball continues losing ways
By Brian Betz
Eight errors in four games does not equate wins. For as well as the women's softball team battled this past week in their games against the University of Pacific and Loyola Marymount, they could only muster one win out of the four they played.
Costly errors are plaguing the Broncos, who are coming to the end of what has been a disappointing season on paper. These fielding woes were evident again this past week as they dropped two to Pacific and split a doubleheader with LMU.
Last Wednesday's evening affair with the Tigers of Pacific called for the lights at Marsalli Park, as game two lasted almost three hours before the Broncos fell by a score of 6-5. Santa Clara jumped on top early with some key hits from the heart of their order. Senior Kristi Harrington singled home junior teammate Coresta Salas, who led off the game with a triple. Harrington would later come around to score, before the 40 minute first inning concluded in a 2-0 cushion for the home team.
The Broncos tacked on another run in the second, but it would not be enough to tame the Tigers. With two outs in the fourth, UOP turned the game completely around with six runs that eventually sent senior starter Deanna Rodriguez to the bench. Despite some late inning RBI's by freshman Lacey Smale, the Broncos could not get it done in the seventh. Pacific closer Cindy Ball slammed the door for her fourth save of the season, as the Tigers completed the two-game sweep.
The Broncos were shutout 3-0 in the opener as Ball pitched a two-hitter for her 18th win on the season. Only senior Sydney Wiginton and Salas managed to record hits in the losing effort.
"Despite the two losses, I was encouraged at the way our girls fought," Head Coach Marcy Crouch said. "I was impressed by our pitching on the day, but whenever you have the breakdowns in the field that we experienced, it is going to make it that much tougher to beat a team that is No. 18 in the nation."
Sunday started out a little more promising with a come-from-behind win that gave the struggling freshman Jennifer Ponzo just her third win on the year. Runs in both the first and second innings put the Lions of LMU up 2-0 before the Broncos responded in the bottom half of the third with the bases loaded. LMU pitcher Sami Strinz walked home junior Lauren Fissori to help Santa Clara pull within one. The Broncos scored two runs later in the fifth to take the lead 3-2.
This time it was the opposing team that showed let down in the field. LMU had two fielding blunders that the Broncos were able to capitalize on, en route to earning the needed victory.
The Broncos could not pull off the sweep however, as they coughed up a three-run lead by giving up five runs in the fourth. The Tigers went on to take the nightcap 6-3.
Two more home matches await the women as they have their sights on Cal Poly and St. Mary's this coming weekend. One more victory is needed to tie last year's total of 17 wins.