March 15, 2003
MORAGA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team dropped game two of a three-game series to Saint Mary's, falling by a 7-2 score Saturday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga, Calif. The loss moves the Broncos' record to 9-16 overall and 1-1 in the West Coast Conference while improving the Gaels' record to 9-12 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Santa Clara started off the scoring in the top of the first inning as Scott Dierks continued his hot hitting, taking Matt Yourkin deep over the left field fence to begin the game. The home run for Dierks was his fourth of the year and gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead after the first half inning of play.
Saint Mary's answered right back in the bottom of the first as Bryan Byrne drew a two-out walk and crossed the plate on the very next play as Tim Spooner took a Kellan McConnell offering deep over the right center field fence for an opposite field two-run blast. The home run was the first of the year for Spooner and gave the Gaels a 2-1 lead after one full inning of play.
McConnell, who is still on a pitch count following his elbow surgery, threw three full innings in which he allowed only the one hit before giving way to John Redmond in the fourth inning.
After getting three outs in the first four batters he saw in his first inning of relief, Redmond was roughed up in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Gaels pounded out six consecutive one-out singles, pushing across four runs. Delaney Gallagher knocked Redmond from the game with the six-straight single, a two-run shot through the left side, giving SMC a 6-1 lead.
Chad Fillinger came on in relief of Redmond and quickly extinguished the Gael rally, getting Adam Bellows to ground into an inning ending double play on his second pitch.
Stephan Foushee swung and missed strike three to begin the SMC half of the sixth inning, but the pitch got away from catcher Jim Wallace, allowing Foushee to reach base. He then moved up to second base on a Fillinger balk, and on to third on a Mike Sansoe sacrifice bunt. Foushee gave the Gaels a 7-1 lead when he came home on a Gilbert Gil sacrifice fly to right field.
The Broncos tried to rally in the eighth inning as A.J. LaBarbera stroked a two-out RBI single to center field, scoring Michael Thompson from second base. The single forced Saint Mary's starter Matt Yourkin from the game after he threw 7 2/3 innings in which he allowed two runs on only four hits. SMC reliever Dane Dobrinich came on in relief and promptly struck out Jason Matteucci to end the eighth inning with two Broncos on base.
Dobrinich remained on the mound to begin the ninth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Scott Shapiro. Will Thompson stepped to the plate needing a single to continue his 10-game hitting streak but lined into a double play as first baseman James Gaulke caught the hot shot and stepped on first base to double up the pinch runner David Hoffmire. Dobrinich got Jack Headley to fly out to right field to end the game.
Yourkin was the winning pitcher and improved to 1-4 on the season for the Gaels while McConnell took the loss for SCU and dropped to 1-2 on the year.
The Saint Mary's win evened up the WCC series opener at one game apiece with the two teams playiing the rubber match on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Guisto Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.