Final Stats

Game One | Game Two

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Diego's offense started slowly in the first game but came up clutch in the second as the Toreros split a pair of games at Santa Clara on Saturday.

A strong pitching performance by Hannah Boos was spoiled in the first game by an anemic offensive showing as the Toreros (24-18, 3-2 WCC) fell, 4-1. USD bounced back in the second game with a late comeback effort to win 4-2 in 10 innings.

USD had a tough day against the Broncos (6-27, 1-4 WCC) offensively, managing just three runs in the first 16.0 innings. The Toreros broke through in the 10th inning of the second game scoring a pair of decisive runs on RBI-singles by Kailey Hill and Lindsay Clare.

USD had its chances in both games but left 11 runners stranded on base in the first contest and eight in the second.

USD fell behind early in the first game with Santa Clara striking for three runs in the first inning. An RBI-single by Eleni Spirakis brought in the first run, then a Torero error allowed two unearned runs to score later in the inning.

The Toreros were kept off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning when Shelbi Evans singled to left field to bring in Lauren Kane and cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Broncos got that run back in the bottom half of the inning when Taylor Burns hit an RBI-single up the middle to extend their lead to 4-1.

The result spoiled a terrific outing by Boos (9-4) who lasted all 6.0 innings and held Santa Clara to four runs - two earned - on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

A leadoff double by Madison Casiano in the top of the seventh inning sparked a late comeback rally by the Toreros in the second game of the day.

Trailing 2-1, Casiano doubled down the left field line and was pinch-ran for by Shannon McKeon. A sacrifice bunt by Kane moved McKeon to third base with one out.

Taylor Spence put the ball in play with two outs that Santa Clara's third baseman was unable to handle and reached base while McKeon raced home to level the score, 2-2.

The Toreros left runners stranded on second and third in the top of the ninth inning but broke through in the 10th. Hannah Gilliland led off with a single then stole second. She came home on an RBI-single by Hill to give the Toreros the lead, 3-2. Clare provided an insurance run with an RBI-single of her own to put USD up, 4-2.

Clare finished the game-2-for-5 with a team-high two RBIs. She has at least one hit in six of the past 10 games.

Halle Kyler got the start in the circle and held the Broncos to two runs on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Delaney Heller (10-7) came in as relief and finished the game, holding Santa Clara scoreless and permitting just one hit and no walks with seven strikeouts.

USD will pursue the series win against the Broncos on Sunday at noon.