May 6, 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team posted its second consecutive Tuesday shutout on the road with a 6-0 blanking of Sacramento State at Hornet Field. The win moves the Broncos' record to 27-24 overall while dropping the Hornets down to 30-21. SCU handed No. 7 Stanford a 2-0 loss last Tuesday at Sunken Diamond.
Santa Clara began the scoring in the fourth inning, posting four runs on six hits. Will Thompson began the barrage with a leadoff double down the right field line and scored one batter later on a single to right field by A.J. LaBarbera. Michael Thompson strode to the plate and delivered his sixth home run of the season, a two-run blast over the left center field wall. Michael Lange picked up a double to left field two batters later and came home on a Jack Headley single to right center, making the score 4-0 in favor of the Broncos.
The Broncos added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning on a RBI single from Jim Wallace and a RBI double by LaBarbera. Headley scored the first run of the inning after singling and stealing second and third to get in position for the Wallace single. Wallace advanced to second on a single by Will Thompson before scoring on the LaBarbera double.
Like last Tuesday's victory over Stanford, the Broncos used many pitchers. Scott Shapiro got the start and threw the first two innings of scoreless ball, allowing only one hit. Patrick McBride and Andrew Slorp were the next two Broncos to take to the mound with each throwing two innings of scoreless relief. Matt Krueger came in a got one out before giving way to Thomas Van Buskirk who finished out the seventh inning with two flyouts.
Anthony Rea gave up two hits but did not allow a run during his one inning of relief in the eighth for the Broncos, paving the way for Chad Fillinger to come in a finish the game. Fillinger came in and set the Hornets down in order, striking out two in the process.
Santa Clara returns to West Coast Conference action this weekend with a three-game weekend series with Gonzaga at Buck Shaw Stadium. Saturday's series opener is scheduled for 1 p.m. as is Sunday's game two. The series finale will by played at 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.