April 6, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team scored three runs in three consecutive innings to cruise to a convincing 12-1 victory over the University of San Francisco Saturday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium.
The Broncos (14-19, 5-5 WCC) got another quality start from junior Joe Diefenderfer who improved to 3-4 on the season after throwing his second complete game victory of the season. The southpaw allowed only one run while scattering 13 hits and striking out five in the victory.
Diefenderfer was given some cushion early on as the Bronco offense scored once in the second and three times in each of the next three innings, giving Santa Clara a 10-0 lead after five. The Broncos scored twice more in the sixth before giving up their only run in the seventh.
A.J. LaBarbera went 4-for-5 on the day with one RBI and three runs scored to lead an offense that pounded out 19 hits on five different San Francisco pitchers. Pat Peavey ended the day with three hits in five at bats to go along with three RBI, while Joey Gomes finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored. The 19 team hits was a season-high for the Broncos.
San Francisco (8-26, 1-12 WCC) committed five errors on the day that led to four Santa Clara runs, but it was the pitching staff that was roughed up early. Starter Jesse Mena and relievers Josh Reidt and Zach Brooks gave up all 12 Bronco runs on 18 hits in their six innings of combined work.
Steve Moses and Travis McGaughy threw well for the Dons, going the final two innings in which they allowed only one hit while striking out four. McGaughy also went 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored, while Steve Booth and Luke Gradishar each went 2-for-4 on the day.
Santa Clara will go for its first series sweep of the season on Sunday when the same two teams meet for the third and final game of the series at 1 p.m. Matt Travis will go to the mound for the Broncos in search of his third victory of the season.