SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (20-28-1, 5-6 WCC) recovered from a slow start in the opening game to salvage a split with Santa Clara (23-25, 4-10 WCC) on Saturday afternoon at the USD Softball Complex.
 
The Toreros fell in game one, 4-0, before responding to take a 6-3 win in the finale of the doubleheader.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – SAN DIEGO 0, SANTA CLARA 4

• The visitors were the first to strike in game one, after loading the bases and driving in a run on a fielder's choice.
• Despite the early advantage, Madison Earnshaw delivered a quality start in the circle for the Toreros, getting through the next four innings unscathed.
• San Diego got a runner in scoring position in the third after a walk from Izzy Owen, a fielder's choice and a stolen base from Mikalyn Emanuelli, but were unable to score.
• An error in the fifth inning allowed Santa Clara to tack on two more runs, but the Toreros would not go away quietly.
• Amanda Limon drew a walk and Owen singled in the fifth inning to give the Toreros a chance, but were also left stranded.
• Earnshaw finished off a complete seven innings, but the Toreros offense was largely held off the bases for the remainder of the game.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – SAN DIEGO 6, SANTA CLARA 3

• The Toreros came out quickly with a response in game two, with starting pitcher Emma Giaime leading the charge.
• Giaime picked up two strikeouts in the first two innings, to buy time for the offense to crack the Broncos pitching staff.
• Limon and EJ Joyner opened the third inning with singles and Clareese Santiago reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with no one out.
• Owen drove in the opening run with a sacrifice fly and then Savannah Alarcon and Joyner executed a play on the base paths to score Joyner on a steal of home, making it 2-0.
• The Toreros kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, striking for four more runs.
• Giaime led off the inning with a single, followed by Emanuelli reaching on a fielder's choice.
• Taylor Johnson ripped a single up the middle and off the pitcher to increase the lead to 3-0.
• Limon followed her with a game-breaking, two RBI double, to clear the bases.
• Owen tacked on some insurance with an RBI double of her own, but was thrown out at third base in search of a triple, leaving the lead at 6-0.
• The lead was all Giaime needed, as the freshman completed 5.2 scoreless frames, before Santa Clara got their first run.
• Despite some errors in the seventh inning that allowed the Broncos to cut the lead to three, Giaime locked down the complete game with three consecutive outs.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• The Toreros improved to 15-4 in games where they register two or more extra base hits.  
• Giaime tallied her sixth complete game of the season, good for the most by a Torero freshman since Earnshaw in 2019.
• With complete games from Giaime and Earnshaw, the Toreros have 23 as a staff, good for the most by a Toreros team since 2014-15 (27).
• Earnshaw (109) took over sole possession of fourth on the Toreros all-time pitching appearances list, passing Cassidy Coleman.
• Earnshaw also matched Coleman for fourth with her 78th start as a Torero.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros will play the series finale against the Broncos on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on the WCC Network.