March 29, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team took game two of a three-game series from Pepperdine, winning by a score of 4-3 in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium. Sophomore transfer Scott Shapiro provided the heroics for the Broncos as he blasted a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Broncos their third extra inning win of the season in seven tries.
The win not only moves SCU's record to 12-18 overall and 4-3 in West Coast Conference action, but also moves them within ½ game of Coast Division leader Pepperdine whose record dropped to 14-14 overall and 5-3 in league play with its second loss in as many days at "The Shaw."
The Broncos got on the board first, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by Michael Thompson's third home run of the year. Thompson hit the solo blast over the left field fence with one out in the inning. Michael Lange, who reached earlier on a single to left field, scored the second run of the game on a double by A.J. LaBarbera.
The Waves got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, snapping Joe Diefenderfer's consecutive scoreless inning streak at 14, when Taylor Klosowski scored on a Brent Haapanen single to left field.
Pepperdine tied the score at two runs apiece in the top of the seventh inning as Kevin Estrada led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, his second of the series and third of the year.
Santa Clara re-took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as LaBarbera reached base after getting hit by a Greg Ramirez pitch. He moved up to second base on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by Jason Matteucci. LaBarbera scored, giving the Broncos a 3-2 lead, on an RBI single up the middle by Will Thompson.
After getting the leadoff man to ground out, Santa Clara turned to closer Patrick Overholt. Diefenderfer left the game having thrown 7 1/3 innings in which he allowed two runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out six.
Overholt recorded the first four outs with relative ease, but the fifth out did not come in time to preserve the win for Diefenderfer. Brandon Daguio came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to center field, scoring David Uribes from second base and tying the score at three apiece.
Despite giving up the tying run, Overholt continued to battle, getting through the 10th inning without allowing a run, keeping the Broncos in position for the win.
Shapiro's blast came off Pepperdine closer Kea Kometani who originally came on in the bottom of the ninth. After getting Ryan Chiarelli out to lead off the inning, Shapiro stepped to the plate where he took the offering deep over the scoreboard for the win.
The game was the 14th of the season for Santa Clara that was decided by two runs or less, as the win moved them to 5-9 in those games.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for the series finale at 1 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium.