Softball loses home game in extra innings

By Brian Betz

Santa Clara softball could only muster a split with the Vikings of Portland State, despite the return of senior co-captain Sydney Wiginton to the Broncos' outfield.

Wiginton missed almost two months of play since she fractured her jaw on Feb. 16, but went a combined 2-5 in the two games of Sunday's doubleheader.

Game one was anybody's contest for a while, as neither team could score a run until the ninth, when the Vikings manufactured two runs thanks to a walk issued by freshman Kelley Johnson and a costly fielding error. The two baserunners came around to score, putting additional pressure on the Broncos' order � a lineup that failed to record a hit until freshman Lacey Smale's single in the seventh inning. The freshman also recorded a two-out, two RBI triple that sent the game into the 10th. Each team started their half of the 10th with a baserunner on second, thanks to the automatic tie-break rule that took effect. A Bronco error in the top half of the 10th was enough for Portland State. to notch the 4-2 victory.

"Even with the loss, I was impressed that we never hung our heads despite our hitting woes," Head Coach Marcy Crouch said. "Smale showed a lot of heart when she broke up the perfect game in the seventh, and her triple in the ninth showed that we were not about to give up."

Viking pitcher Morgan Seibert was sensational as she struck out seven of the first nine batters she faced, en route to fanning 13 and recording her seventh win of the season.

The nightcap was undoubtedly a different story, as the Broncos shut out the Vikings 4-0. Santa Clara posted three runs in the first two innings, which turned out to be more than enough support for senior hurler Deanna Rodriguez. The senior pitcher tallied her eighth win by allowing just three hits in seven innings of work.

"[Rodriguez] pitched incredibly well for us," Crouch said. "We jumped on the board early in the first two innings and she carried us the rest of the way. I was pleased that we bounced back so emphatically after game one's loss."

The split brings Santa Clara's record to 14-23 on the season.