MORAGA, Calif. — Game one of the clash between the top two teams in the WCC, the Santa Clara Broncos (26-15, 6-1 WCC) and the Saint Mary's Gaels (19-21, 2-2 WCC) lived up to the billing, needing extra innings to decide a victor. At the end of the full seven, the game remained tied at zeroes, and continued that way until Santa Clara broke through for three in the top of the ninth, ultimately winning the game 3-0.
Odhi Vasquez got the game one start, and pitched eight full scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits in that time. Three times, Vasquez would strand the go-ahead run at third, and, in the top of the seventh, she received some help from her defense, when the Broncos attempted to score a runner from second on an infield single. Alex Cutonilli fired a dart to Dominique Oliveira behind the dish to retire the side and keep the Broncos of the scoreboard. In the top of the ninth, the Broncos broke through. After a lead off hit batter and a wild pitch, the Broncos laced a one out single to center to break the scoreless stalemate, followed by a two run home run for added insurance. The Gaels offense could not rally in the bottom half, and the game ended in favor of SCU.
The Gaels offense did generate a few scoring opportunities. In the very first inning, Alex Cutonilli hit her first collegiate triple to left center with two outs, but was stranded at third. A frame later, Victoria Castillo reached on a fielder's choice after a Tori Cervantes walk, and made it up to third, before also being stuck 60 feet from home. Finally, in the bottom of the seventh, Taylor Lane worked a pinch hit leadoff walk and was run for by Julia Medina. Medina was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cervantes, and Castillo was plunked to put two on with one, but a double play would send the game into extras, eventually resulting in the Santa Clara victory.
Odhi Vasquez pitched into extra frames for the third time this season and the fifth time in her career. The Gaels two hits belonged to Tori Cervantes (a single) and Alex Cutonilli (her first collegiate triple). Sam Buckley, Taylor Lane, Braxton Brown and Victoria Castillo each also reached base either via the walk or hit by pitch. Buckley, Brown and Castllo have each reached safely in each of the last three contests, the current active best on-base streaks for the Gaels this year. Cervantes currently owns the team's active lead in consecutive games with a hit with two.
The Gaels will get two more chances at Santa Clara tomorrow, with a doubleheader starting at noon.
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