April 6, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - For the second time in 2003 the Santa Clara University baseball team swept an opponent, taking game three of the three-game set from San Francisco by a 7-3 score Sunday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
The win improved the Broncos' record to 16-19 overall and 8-4 in West Coast Conference action while dropping the Dons' record to 13-22 overall and 6-9 in league play. The sweep plus a win earlier in the week against Saint Mary's gives the Broncos their first four-game win streak since sweeping Hawaii-Hilo in a four-game series in Kona, Hawaii earlier this year.
In spite of the three game sweep of the Dons, the Broncos gained no ground in the WCC Coast Division race as Pepperdine maintained their one game lead over SCU with a three game sweep of their own over West Division leader, San Diego.
The Broncos jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the top half of the first inning as Scott Dierks got things started off with his 12th home run of the season. The solo shot over the left field fence was his fourth leadoff home run of the season. Jack Headley followed the homer with a double off the left field fence and scored two batters later when Jim Wallace hit a two-run opposite field home run onto Masonic Avenue. Will Thompson then drew a walk and moved up to third base on a throwing error by T.J. Franco on a failed pick off attempt. Thompson scored on the very next play as Michael Thompson, no relation, picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly out to right field.
Dierks started the Bronco rally in the top of the seventh inning as he led off with a double of the left field fence. He advanced to third on a groundout to shortstop by Headley before scoring on a single to right field by Wallace. Wallace would come around to score one batter later as he was off on the pitch that Will Thompson singled to left center, plating Wallace for a 6-0 SCU lead.
Kellan McConnell had a good outing for the Broncos as the starting pitcher, throwing four full innings in which he allowed no runs on only two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He was pulled in favor of John Redmond to begin the fifth as he reached his pitch count maximum of 65 pitches as he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Redmond improved to 3-3 on the season as he threw three full innings in which he allowed only one hit during his time on the mound. He gave way to Andrew Slorp who faced three batters, walking one and hitting the other two before being replaced by Anthony Rea.
Rea came on and got the Broncos out of the inning despite allowing a single up the middle by Jonnie Knoble that scored two runners, both of which were credited to Slorp. Rea registered two strikeouts and a groundout to keep the Broncos ahead with the 7-2.
Scott Shapiro came on in the ninth and recorded two outs, including one on a strikeout, before giving up a walk to Royce Fukuroku who would score on a single to center field by Ryan Hanson. The RBI single by Hanson prompted the Broncos to make another change on the mound, brining in Patrick Overholt. Overholt made quick work of pinch-hitter Anthony Jimenez, striking him out on three straight pitches to preserve the 7-3 win.
The Broncos return home next weekend for a four game homestand beginning with No. 4 Stanford Tuesday night at 6 p.m. San Diego will travel to Buck Shaw Stadium for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's contests are both slated for 1 p.m. starts.