by Brandon Rebboah
VIEW ACTION PHOTOS OF TODAY'S GAME
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Broncos honored seven players in their final home game as a member of the Bronco baseball team and Santa Clara (17-31) lost its final home game of the season, falling to San Diego 16-6. San Diego used an eight-run fifth inning to put the Broncos out of reach. Brock Simon (3-8) picked up the loss for Santa Clara, while Paul Paez (7-4) got the win for San Diego. Both seniors in the lineup drove in runs in their final home game. Senior Day was highlighted by senior catcher Patrick Terry, who had a four-RBI performance including a two-run homer in his final game at Stephen Schott Stadium.
San Diego scored runs in the first, third fifth and sixth inning including a grand slam by Zach Sullivan.
In the second inning, Bryan Haar beat out a groundball to pick up his third RBI of the game and extend the San Diego lead to 4-0. Simon picked off Haar, 1-3-4-1, to end the inning.
In the home half of the fourth, senior Patrick Terry was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Drew Ozanne doubled down the right-field line to put runners on first and third. Stephen Takahashi knocked in Terry with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, a play at the plate ended the inning.
With two outs in the sixth, Mike Couch entered the game for the Broncos. Couch ended the inning and tossed a hitless seventh inning.
Santa Clara pushed across its second run in the seventh. Senior Brian Roby picked up his second RBI of the year with a double that scored Justin Viele from second.
The Broncos scored two more runs in the eighth inning. Blake Leyva hit a double to begin the inning. After a quick out, Terry hit a two-run bomb that cleared the left-field wall.
Couch finished the game for the Broncos, pitching his longest outing of the year. He tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits.
The Broncos scored twice in the ninth, but ultimately fell 16-6.
The Broncos wrap up their season next weekend at Portland. The series begins Fri., May 27 at 3 p.m.
Game Notes: The first pitch was thrown at...Brian Roby made his third start of the season…the Broncos honored seven players for Senior Day: Cory Hall, Thain Simon, Curtis Wagner, Patrick Terry, Joe Supple, Brian Roby and Jason Westerberg…the seven final-year players met San Diego head coach Rich Hill and the umpires for the lineup exchange before the game…Wagner was in the lineup for his final home game, but was replaced by DeMerritt before the first pitch due to an injury Wagner suffered yesterday...DeMerritt made his second consecutive appearance at first base…today's start was Terry's 101st appearance in the Santa Clara lineup…Santa Clara donned their Sunday-traditional red uniforms…Brock Simon pitched four innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits while striking out one batter…Max Deering pitch in the sixth inning, but did not record an out….Zach Looney pinch-ran for Roby in the ninth after Roby was hit by a pitch.
