Game 1:
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara baseball team (9-10) guaranteed at least a split in the series by defeating Brown (2-8), 5-1, for the second-straight time this afternoon in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
Starting sophomore pitcher Brock Simon improved to 2-3 with a solid seven-inning effort, striking out one and only allowing one run on four hits. Junior closer J.R. Graham picked up his third save of the year, striking out two batters in two innings of work.
Pat Terry starred at the plate for the Broncos, going 2-for-4 and hitting his first homerun of the year, a three-run shot to left center in the eighth inning. Also going 2-for-4 was sophomore Matt Ozanne and junior Lucas Herbst. Freshman Kyle DeMerritt and sophomore Justin Viele were both 2-for-3.
Santa Clara scored in the third and fourth innings to make it 2-0 on RBI-singles from Herbst and Viele, while Brown halved the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Terry's homerun in the eighth was the final scoring play of the game.
Brown used four pitchers in the losing effort. Starter Kevin Carlow fell to 0-3 on the year after pitching six innings with two earned runs on eight hits.
Game Notes: Game duration, 2:18 … LOB: Santa Clara 6, Brown 5 … seven innings tied Brock Simon's season-high innings pitched … MLB legend John Franco was in attendance, as his son J.J. starts for Brown at second base.
By Brandon Rebboah '13
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara offense (10-10) exploded to pull to .500 on the season and ensure a series victory over visiting Brown (2-9) by defeating the Bears, 18-3, in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Schott Stadium.
"We took what they gave us and they helped us a little bit," said head coach Mark O'Brien. "We were disciplined to take our walks and hit-by-pitches, which is good. We had a lot of two-out RBIs which is good. No matter what the score is, you have to have quality at-bats. I think that is what our guys focused on."
The offensive performance was highlighted three-RBI performances by junior Lucas Herbst, freshman Kyle DeMerritt and sophomore Quinton Perry. Chris Mendoza (2-2) had a strong outing for the Broncos pitching seven innings while surrendering one run on four hits and striking out two batters.
After Brown pitcher Mark Gormley hit two consecutive batters, senior Curtis Wagner ignited the Bronco bats in the first with an RBI-single. Sophomore Matt Ozanne also hit an RBI-single to give Santa Clara a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Santa Clara poured on four more runs in the second inning, chasing Gormley from the mound with no outs in the second. Reliever Anthony Galan didn't fare much better as Herbst scored sophomore Blake Leyva from third on a sacrifice-squeeze play and DeMerritt added an RBI-single. Patrick Terry continued the inning with a two-RBI single.
The Broncos blew the game open in the third when sophomore Justin Viele hit a RBI-double. Freshman Zach Looney and Herbst then knocked in two more runs with singles. DeMerritt got his second RBI of the day of with a sacrifice fly. Ozanne added another sacrifice fly to give Santa Clara an 11-0 lead after three innings.
Brown finally put a run on the board in the fourth when Pete Geskoff drove in a runner with an RBI-single.
In the fifth inning, DeMerritt roped a ball down the third base line to tally his third RBI of the day, extending the Santa Clara lead to 11 runs.
In the seventh, the Broncos increased their lead when Looney provided a ground-out RBI and Herbst posted a RBI-double. Junior Andrew Biancardi then provided a pinch-hit RBI-single. Quinton Perry crushed a pinch-hit three-run homer, his first career hit, that sailed over the left field fence to extend the Santa Clara lead to 18-1.
"It felt good. I got an opportunity to get in there and I just had to go out there with the best I had," said Perry.
Brown loaded the bases in the ninth as the Broncos used the opportunity to get the bullpen some work, walking in two runs to make the final score 18-3.
"Those runs don't count tomorrow, so we need to come out and prepare properly," said O'Brien.
Santa Clara concludes its four-game series with Brown tomorrow with a 6 p.m. The Broncos then take on UC Davis at home on Wednesday Mar. 30 at 6 p.m.
Game Notes: Matt Ozanne made an acrobatic-diving catch in right-center to save a hit in the first inning…Kyle DeMerrit's 3-RBI performance gives him a team high 16…Chris Mendoza reacted to a ball hit right at him and tossed it to first in the fourth inning… six Bronco batters were hit-by-pitch… Brown used five pitcher's in the second game… Stephen Meade pinch-ran for Lucas Herbst in the sixth and stayed in the game in right field…Drew Ozanne pinch-hit for Kyle DeMerritt in the sixth; Ozanne stayed in the game at third base… Brian Roby pinch-hit and stayed in the game at left field… freshman Gregory Harisis replaced Blake Leyva at second base in the seventh inning; Harisis also recorded his first collegiate hit with a single in the seventh inning… Peter Summerville made his first collegiate appearance in the seventh when he pinch-hit for Looney and stayed in the game at catcher… James Smith pitched in relief of Mendoza in the eighth… Kenny Treadwell made his first collegiate appearance in the ninth inning…Greg Plauck relieved Treadwell in the ninth.