March 30, 2013
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The LMU softball team suffered a setback Saturday at Santa Clara, dropping a pair of one-run games to the Broncos, 3-2 and 4-3.
The Lions and Broncos complete the four-game Pacific Coast Softball Conference series with an even 2-2 split as LMU moves to 21-18 overall and 4-4 in PCSC play. Santa Clara improves to 5-26 on the season and 2-2 in league action.
In the opener, a Meghan Harman home run in the top of the first accounted for all of LMU's coring. Her one-out long ball also scored leadoff hitter Danielle Smith who had reached on a throwing error by Santa Clara pitcher Carissa Theis.
But the Lions would manage just one more hit the entire game - a Sterling Shuster single in the seventh - as the Broncos rallied for two runs in the bottom of the first and scored the go-ahead in the second on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Casandra Padilla.
Stephanie Crist started the game in the circle for LMU, but lasted just two-thirds of an inning after giving up five hits and the two first-inning runs. Dana Waldusky surrendered just two hits over the final 5.1 innings, but was charged with the loss.
It would be Santa Clara which took an early lead in game two, posting two runs in the first on back-to-back home runs and one in the third on a passed ball.
The Lions again struggled at the plate, but finally came alive in the seventh, stringing together form hits for three runs to knot the score, 3-3.
With one out, Shuster doubled to left and two batters later, Olivia Alvarez singled to center as Shuster advanced to third. Stephanie Maciel followed with a double to center that scored both Shuster and Alvarez. Samantha Nelson accounted for the inning's final run as her RBI-single scored Maciel.
It would be the Broncos who would score first in extra innings, however, as a Chiara Biagini two-out single to center scored Sam Fisher who led off the eighth inning by beating out a infield single.
Waldusky (5-14) struck out four, allowed nine hits and four runs (three earned) and did not issue a walk in 7.2 innings. Hannah Montalban had two of the Lions' eight hits, while six other players added one.
LMU continues PCSC play April 6-7, hosting Saint Mary's in a four-game series at Smith Field. First pitch both days is scheduled for 10 a.m.
-GO LIONS-
