Feb. 25, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team's ninth inning rally fell just short as California held on for a 7-5 victory Tuesday night in Buck Shaw Stadium.
Two runs in the ninth inning for the Broncos (7-9) was not enough as Jesse Ingram held on for his third save of the year for the Golden Bears (11-5) despite allowing two runs on two hits with two walks in just 1 1/3 inning of relief.
Joe Todoroff was the star of the game for Cal, coming on in relief of starter Brent Hale with one out in the bottom of the second inning. Todoroff improved to 3-0 on the season after throwing 6 1/3 innings in which he allowed only one run on five hits while walking one and striking out eight Broncos.
Kellen McConnell took the loss for Santa Clara after allowing two runs on two hits in one full inning of relief. The appearance for McConnell was his first since being cleared to play after having Tommy John surgery last spring.
Chris Grossman proved to be the offensive hero for California, going 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, two of which came in the seventh on a single to left field scoring Allen Craig and Brian Horwitz. The single gave the Bears a 7-3 lead and proved to be the decisive runs in the game.
Jack Headley and Jim Wallace each had two hits for the Broncos with Headley also scoring a run and driving in one. Jason Matteucci went 1-for-5 but picked up two RBI in the ninth inning with a bases loaded single. Scott Dierks also drove in a run as he picked up his first home run in a SCU uniform, launching a long home run over the left field fence with one out in the fourth inning.
Santa Clara's starting pitcher Scott Shapiro went three plus innings in which he allowed one earned run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
The Broncos return to action this weekend at "The Shaw", hosting Cal Poly in a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.