Carpinteria gave up six unearned runs on Thursday and it cost the Warriors in an 8-5 loss to Santa Clara.
The Saints scored first, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Santa Clara led 5-2 after five innings before the Warriors cut it to 5-4 with a two-run top of the sixth. A three-run bottom half of the inning gave Santa Clara a four-run cushion.
Natalie Saito pitched six innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs. Saito recorded two hits and scored twice on offense. Scarlett Pettine and Tatiana Requejo added ulti-hit games for Carpinteria with Requejo driving in three runs.
Carpinteria head coach Henry Gonzales said the team is looking to fix the defensive lapses.
“We got good pitching but did not play our best defense,” Gonzales explained. “Several times with two out we could not make fundamental plays that allowed 6 unearned runs to cross the plate. I have to do a better job of preparing our girls to play at a consistent high level so this doesn’t occur.”
Carpinteria falls to 3-3 on the season.
