Softball Defeated by Santa Clara to Open California Trip

Wednesday, March 15

Santa Clara, Calif.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-7

Santa Clara

15-13

Dartmouth

Santa Clara

Jenna Brown softball action versus Cornell

Photo by: Doug Austin

Softball Defeated by Santa Clara to Open California Trip

3/15/2023 9:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Big Green were unable to solve Santa Clara’s defense, falling by a score of 5-0

By: Francis Forte

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Dartmouth softball team was unable to solve Santa Clara's defense, falling by a score of 5-0 to open its California trip. The Big Green recorded four hits, but could not tack runs on the board, while the Broncos capitalized on numerous opportunities to seal a home win over Dartmouth.

Lauren Ben-Ezra, Mary Beth Cahalan, Maria Angelino and Jenna Brown each recorded hits for the Big Green. Brown registered Dartmouth's lone hit for extra bases in the form of a triple in the top of the seventh.

Rachel McCarroll and Stella Bale split time in the circle for the Big Green, while the duo of Sage Hager and Hannah Edwards completed a shutout for Santa Clara.

How it happened:
Dartmouth and Santa Clara were both unable to put runs on the board in the first frame. The Broncos stranded Ashley Trierweiler after she walked and stole second, but that was as much offense as either team could generate in the opening inning.

Angelino recorded the game's first hit, as the senior drove a single through the left side with two outs on the board. Brown was unable to advance her, however, as Santa Clara kept the Big Green off the scoresheet.

Santa Clara opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, as a sacrifice bunt from Hazyl Gray brought the first run of the game home. The Big Green held off a Bronco runner at third, taking a 1-0 deficit into the third frame.

After a quiet top of the third from the Big Green, the Broncos looked to increase their advantage in the bottom of the frame. Santa Clara led off with a single, which was followed up by an RBI double from Emma Bickford.

Following a flyout that advanced Bickford to third, an error brought her home and placed a runner on first. The Big Green were able to cut off the Broncos, as the home squad led 3-0 after three frames.

Santa Clara's first two batters of the fourth were retired and Bailey McLaughlin moved herself to second following a single and a stolen base. Ashley Trierweiler recorded an RBI to extend her team's lead, driving in McLaughlin with a single to left field. Bale entered the circle for McCarroll and guided Dartmouth out of the inning.

Jenna Brown kept Morgan Salmon from registering an extra-base hit, tracking a well-hit ball back to the wall to record the first out of the bottom of the fifth. Despite this strong defensive effort, the Broncos tacked on their fifth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Big Green placed runners on first and second in the top of the sixth, as the visitors looked to begin a rally. A flyout ended the half-inning, and after a scoreless bottom of the frame from Santa Clara, faced a five-run deficit heading into the seventh.

Dartmouth fell to 3-7 on the year, while Santa Clara improved to 15-13 on the year.

Up Next:
Dartmouth heads to Stockton, California to continue its West Coast road trip tomorrow. The Big Green will take on Pacific in a doubleheader afternoon, which is set to begin at 4 p.m. Fans can catch the action on the WCCSports.com.