SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After and emotional win to open the series, Santa Clara dropped the second game of a three-game weekend series to Cal State Bakersfield 10-2. The series against Cal State Bakersfield concludes tomorrow, Sun., Apr. 3, at 1 p.m.
Brock Simon (2-4) absorbed the loss while pitching 7.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 13 hits with one strikeout and one walk. The Broncos move to 12-12 and Bakersfield is 19-7.
"They did a good job of cashing in when they had opportunities," said Bronco head coach Mark O'Brien. "We had some opportunities that we didn't cash in on. I give them credit. They took advantage of their opportunities."
Bakersfield loaded the bases to open the game in the first inning and scored its first run on a sacrifice-fly to right field. Simon then got out of the inning by inducing a pop-up. Simon retired the side in order in the top of the second on five pitches.
Simon surrendered a double to Ryan McIntyre to lead-off the top of the third but he was erased when he failed to tag-up on a foul fly ball caught by left fielder Zach Looney. After another double, Justin Viele made a terrific play to his right on a grounder and threw out Martin Medina to end the inning.
After ending the top of the third with a fantastic defense play, Viele had a one-out single in the bottom of the frame and stole second on the first pitch to the next batter. Viele advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Looney and Lucas Herbst and Kyle DeMerritt were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Curtis Wagner popped up to second to end the Bronco threat.
Simon again retired the side in order on five pitches in the top of the fourth.
Matt Ozanne drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, moved to second on a ground-out and scored on Drew Ozzane's RBI single to center.
Simon loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth and gave up back-to-back run scoring singles to put the Roadrunners up by four runs. After a bunt single, Simon struck out Kevin Younger to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Simon allowed three singles in a row and a sacrifice fly to put the Roadrunners up 2-0.
Simon retired the side in order in the top of the seventh. The third out came on a diving catch by center fielder Matt Ozanne.
After allowing two singles in the top of the eighth inning, Simon was relieved by James Smith who allowed the first batter he faced to single to load the bases and a sacrifice fly to designated hitter Martin Medina. Oscar Sanay followed with an RBI single to right before Smith forced a ground-out to end the inning.
Smith left the game after allowing three singles and one run to start the top of the ninth. Paul Twining relieved Smith and faced pinch-hitter Chris Curtis and induced a 6-4-3 double play and a fly out to center field to end the inning without allowing any more runs.
Matt Ozanne led off the bottom of the ninth with a double over the left fielder's head and scored on two ground-outs but the Broncos were unable to score again.
"[Tomorrow, to win the series] we have to compete from the first pitch until the last pitch," said O'Brien.
Games Notes: The first pitch was at 1:02 p.m. …The top of the third was filled with terrific defense by the Broncos …Drew Ozanne got his second consecutive start … Drew Ozanne also had an RBI for the second consecutive game …Game time was 2 hours and 26 minutes.
