April 23, 2016 Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
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LOS ANGELES - Donning pink uniforms in support of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's "Strikeout Cancer" initiative, the LMU softball team made it's return to Smith Field with a pair of West Coast Conference rival Santa Clara Saturday afternoon.
The Lions (27-19, 4-3 WCC) survived a late Bronco rally to win game one, 7-5, and then ran away with an 8-0, five-inning shutout in game two.
The home run ball was key in both games as the Lions hit five total shots over the fence, including solo shots by Alex Finie and Aria Pogni in the bottom of the fifth inning, capping the eight-run mercy rule.
Santa Clara (7-34, 2-3 WCC) scored the first run of the day in the top of the first, but LMU responded in the form of a Stephanie Maciel two-run homer in the fourth and a Meghan von Behren two-run homer in the fifth.
The Broncos rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by Geenamarie Bonilla and a three-run shot by Justine Garner. But the Lions were quick to answer in the bottom of the inning, plating three runs on an Amanda Dirks homer, an Alex Finie RBI single and a Maciel bases-loaded walk.
In 1.1 innings of relief, Hannah Bandimere took the win in the circle, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Starter Rachael Farrington fanned five and scattered six hits for seven runs in 5.2 innings.
In the nightcap, LMU broke open a scoreless draw with a six-run third inning. Finie and Pogni added solo home runs in the fifth to end the game early.
Finie went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI in the game. The junior first baseman finished the day with five hits, three runs scored and four RBI.
Bandimere (15-10) picked up her second win of the day with the five-inning, complete-game performance. She fanned seven and allowed just two hits in the shutout.
LMU and Santa Clara return to Smith Field for the third and final game of the WCC series on Sunday at noon. The game will stream live on theW.tv.
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