SANTA CLARA, Calif.- Santa Clara dropped the series-finale to Gonzaga 8-3. Brock Simon (3-6) picked up the loss for the Broncos, while Marco Gonzalez (7-2) picked up the win. The Broncos will host Cal on Tues., May 3 at 6 p.m.
Simon induced a fly ball for the first out of the game. Tyler Chism hit a one-out single, but was caught stealing, 1-3-6-3, for the second out. Simon forced another fly ball to end the inning.
After scoring two runs in the second, the Zags looked to extend their lead in the third. Brock Simon pitched his way out of a jam, allowing just one run to score. With one out and the bases loaded, Eslick singled to left to score a run. A second runner attempted to score, but was gunned out by Matt Ozanne at home. Simon provided a groundout to end the frame.
In the home half of the inning, Matt Ozanne hit a solo-dinger to give Santa Clara its first run and hit of the game.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases again, but Simon battled to allow just one run
The Broncos put their second run on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Lucas Herbst. Lucas Herbst reached on an error to start the inning. Kyle DeMerritt single to put runners on first and second. Herbst advanced to third on a double play, Curtis Wagner hit a RBI double to shorten the Gonzaga lead to two runs.
Matt Ozanne picked up his second hit of the game with a leadoff single in the fifth. After a strikeout, Justin Viele singled to center to advance Ozanne to second. The Broncos executed a double-steal to advance runners to second and third. Zach Looney reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ozanne. After five, the Broncos trailed 4-3.
Brock Simon retired two Bulldogs to start the sixth, then allowed two doubles that resulted in a run for Gonzaga. Simon was lifted in favor of Chris Mendoza. Mendoza walked the first batter he faced, but recovered with a groundout to end the inning.
Gonzaga added two three runs in the last three innings to pick up a, 8-3, victory.
Game Notes: First pitch was thrown at 1:02 p.m...Kyle DeMerritt made his first collegiate start as a second baseman (39 starts at third)…Drew Ozanne made his second start of the year as a defensive player, his first at third base…today was only the second time this season that twin brothers Matt and Drew Ozanne have batted consecutively in the batting order (Apr.15 at Saint Mary's was the other game)…Brock Simon made his first start since Apr 2.…Matt Ozanne's homer gives him a team-high three on the year…DeMerritt extended his hitting streak to five games…Simon pitched 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits…Simon was relieved by Chris Mendoza…Mendoza was relieved by Max Deering in the seventh, Deering pitched a scoreless eighth…Paul Twining pitched the ninth inning for SCU.
