April 22, 2003
BERKELEY, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team had its season-long five game win streak snapped with its 11-6 loss to California Tuesday afternoon at Evans Diamond in Berkeley, Calif. The Broncos' record dropped to 21-22 with the loss while the Golden Bears' record improved to 24-19 on the year.
Santa Clara got on the board in the top of the first inning as Scott Dierks led off the game with a double to left field and moved to third base on a Jack Headley groundout to second base. Dierks came home on a weak ground ball to third base from Jason Matteucci that was thrown home but the Golden Bears were unable to get Dierks out as he slid around the tag for a 1-0 lead.
California came right back in the bottom of the first inning with one run of their own as Conor Jackson stroked a two-out single to left field and moved up to third on a single to right center by Chris Grossman. Both Grossman and Jackson moved up a base on a John Redmond balk, tying the score at one run apiece heading into the second.
The Golden Bears scored seven times on six hits, three of which were somewhat fortuitous, capped off by a two-run single up the middle by Brian Horwitz and a two-run double by James Holder, both of which came with two outs. The fortunate hits came when Justin Nelson reached on an infield single that took a bad hop, helping Cal avoid a double play. Ryan Einspahr followed the Nelson hit up with a bloop single that landed right on the right field line. David Nicholson's hit was also an infield hit that took a bad bounce at third base. What resulted in the inning was an 8-1 lead for the Golden Bears heading into the third inning.
The Broncos got two runs back in the fourth inning despite not getting a hit, taking advantage of two Cal errors in the inning and cutting the Golden Bears' lead down to 8-3. Michael Lange picked up the only RBI in the inning with a bases loaded walk with only one out. Dierks and Headley stranded the bases loaded and ended the SCU rally as Dierks struck out and Headley grounded into a fielder's choice that put Lange out at second base on the 6-4 putout.
Cal scored once again in the fifth inning, this time plating one runner despite not getting a hit. Nelson led off the inning with a walk and moved up to second another walk, this time issued to Einspahr. Nelson moved up to third on a fielder's choice and scored two batters later when Jackson brought him home on a sacrifice fly to center, making the score 9-3 in favor of the Bears.
Dierks began a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. Headley followed with a single to center, moving Dierks to third. Matteucci brought Dierks home and moved Headley to second with a flare down the right field line. Jim Wallace singled to center field, scoring Headley and moving Matteucci to third base. Will Thompson doubled down the right field line, scoring Matteucci but the inning ended when Wallace was cut down at the plate on a beautiful relay from Dragicevich at shortstop. All in all the Broncos scored three runs in the sixth inning to trim the Cal lead in half at 9-6.
James Holder led off the Cal half of the sixth inning with a walk and came around to score on a Nelson double down the right field line, moving the Golden Bears' lead up to 10-6. SCU reliever Andrew Slorp did strand the bases loaded and he induced Nicholson into a pop out and Ben Conley into an inning ending groundout to second base.
Cal added another run in the seventh inning as two hit batsmen and a double lead to the Golden Bears' run, and increasing their lead to 11-6. Pinch runner Nick Medrano scored the run after replacing Jackson who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He scored when Holder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
John Redmond falls to 5-4 on the season with the loss, while Joe Todoroff improves to 5-2 on the season with the win. Travis Talbott picks up his first save of the season for the Golden Bears.
Santa Clara returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against Loyola Marymount at Buck Shaw Stadium. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday's games are slated for 1 p.m. first pitches.